The persistence of this phenomenon has puzzled me for decades. From the 1980s, I have asked Japanese women who are married to foreigners, "Since you care about

The persistence of this phenomenon has puzzled me for decades. From the 1980s, I have asked Japanese women who are married to foreigners, "Since you care about how your husband is perceived in Japanese society, why don't you correct him away from overtly female speech habits?" The usual reaction is to be simply dumbfounded at the question. I've never talked to a Japanese woman who reacted like, "Hey, that's a good idea."