Japan ratified the International Convention on Gender Equality 30 years ago. Paradoxically, the more the government promotes gender equality in law, the more women's time is consumed by paid and unpaid labor, perpetuating gender inequality in the household, the smallest unit of society. I surveyed 10 highly educated couples with high income to clarify the actual situation. The survey found that even if both spouses are professionals, paid work for women is perceived by the high-earning husbands only as economic wealth.

The husband does not feel obliged to reciprocate by trying to help with care work, and the wife, even if overworked, does not make strong demands. Therefore, the imbalance between male and female unpaid work will remain. Women's paid work adds to family income, enriching their husbands' time and freedom, (and increasing their pocket money), but it also deprives women of the time needed for basic life functions, such as eating and sleeping.