目的:日本人男性を夫にもつ子育て中のアジア系外国人女性を対象に、家族との関係で抱く困難感を明らかにすることを目的とした。
方法:日本人男性を夫にもつ未就学児を養育するアジア系外国人女性 11 名にインタビューガイドに準じた半構造化面接を行い、質的記述的に分析を行った。語られた内容は意味のあるまとまりごとに抽出し、それらを要約してコード化し、コード間の共通性や差異性に注目して分類・統合しながら、サブカテゴリー、カテゴリーを生成した。
結果:分析の結果、日本人男性を夫にもつ子育て中のアジア系外国人女性が家族との関係で抱く困難感として、≪母国と異なる家事や子育て文化の違いへの戸惑い≫≪異文化の壁により表出できない本音≫≪日本人である義母の考えを優先≫≪受け入れてもらえない自身の価値≫≪夫と子どもへの期待を支えとしての日本での生活≫の 5 つのカテゴリーが見出された。
考察:養育期に、母親が外国人ゆえに、母国言語の伝承が許されず、家族から閉め出されたという思いをもつ事態は、母親の精神的ストレスや育児、家族内の人間関係にも影響するため、アジア系外国人女性が家族の中で尊重されることが大切であると考える。保健師などの支援者は、夫婦が相互に習慣や文化、価値観を理解し、尊重し合えるよう、他のアジア系外国人女性やその夫から話を聞けるような機会や日本人家族のアジア系外国人女性に対する態度を変える働きかけとして、異文化の理解ができるような場の提供を行うことも大切であると考える。
Objectives: This study was performed to clarify difficulties in family relationships of Asian women married to Japanese men in relation to child rearing.
Methods: We collected data through semi-structured interviews from 11 Asian women married to Japanese men while rearing pre-school-age children. Using the recorded content, codes were created for statements. Subcategories were established from the codes, and categories were created from each of the subcategories.
Results: Five categories of difficulties experienced in the family relationships were as follows: they were bewildered at cultural differences with regard to child rearing and housework; they felt that they could not show their real feelings because of consciousness of cross-cultural barriers; they have to obey the instructions of their Japanese mother-in-law; their Japanese family does not accept their values; they can live in Japan only for the sake of their children and husband.
Discussion: In the child rearing period, when a woman feels that her mother has been excluded from her family’s language because of her foreign nationality, and her family is locked out, this has a negative effect on her mental well-being, parenting, and family relations. It is important that foreign Asian women are respected in their families in Japan. To gain an understanding and respect for each other’s habits, cultures, and values, it is important to provide opportunities to hear from other Asian foreign women and their husbands and develop ways to change Japanese families’ attitudes toward foreign Asian women in Japan.