It's so strange to read this, as I had an almost completely opposite experience growing up in the Netherlands. Even though my family is ostensibly Catholic, an

It's so strange to read this, as I had an almost completely opposite experience growing up in the Netherlands. Even though my family is ostensibly Catholic, and the church sort of pushes traditional values, they're no match for the public schooling telling all kids that girls are just as good as boys at everything. Sure, preferences exist, but jobs are not girl or boy specific. University is just as accessible to either, and after marriage you're both expected to share the load. I just didn't know any better. I thought it was the same everywhere. In hindsight it was strange, because my aunts and mother were all stay at home moms. I just never had that expectation for my future wife. Sure, due to the cost of childcare I expected either me or her to stay at home, because it just made more financial sense, but I like to think I'd have been perfectly happy with either. Then I moved to Japan, and things couldn't be more different. Traditional roles are heavily emphasized here, even if it's not motivated by religion. I'll go to some event with my child, and I'll just be the sole dad surrounded by mothers (on a Sunday!). Like, I dunno what all the fathers here are supposed to be doing. My wife doesn't really like her job, and fantasizes about quitting and just becoming stay at home, but every time I ask her if she'd actually be happier sitting around all day playing with our son she very quickly reconsiders. I think it's both good for him to play with lots of different kids in kindergarden, and for mom to have some time to do adult things during work. Since kindergarden is free here it's also pure extra money.