News Onomichi City apologizes after advising pregnant women to massage husbands, cook, and clean

[thomas]

Onomichi City in Hiroshima Prefecture conducted a public survey in 2017 that was used to create flyers for pregnant women that were later distributed to residents, according to the city government's website.

"There are differences in how men and women feel and think," one flyer reads. "One of the reasons for this is the structural difference in the brains of men and women. It is known that men act based on theories, while women act based on emotions. The important thing is to understand each others' differences and divide roles well," it added, before stating that husbands and new fathers like to be thanked for carrying out basic tasks such as washing the dishes, changing diapers, and holding their children. "get frustrated for no reason."

It concluded that there are many things new mothers can do to please their husbands, including giving them massages, preparing their lunch every day, handling the childcare and housework, greeting them with a "welcome home," and always having "a smile on her face." This week, Local media reports drew attention to the flyers, with social media erupting in anger and disbelief.

The flyers and the public survey it was based on "mean that this is what men really think," one person wrote. "Most men think that childcare is someone else's business, wives are supposed to do the housework, don't neglect to look after their husbands, don't upset their husbands … You'd better not get married."

https://edition.cnn.com/2023/07/28/asia/japan-onomichi-pregnant-women-apology-intl-hnk/index.html

 

[mdchachi]

I guess somebody in Onomichi is longing for the mythical good old days.

 

[musicisgood]

Some one has been watching to many re-runs of the 50's on TV.

 

[mdchachi]

I would have thought these ads would not have worked well because even back then probably the wives did most of the clothes shopping.
But Van Heusen did well for themselves even becoming official clothier for Buckingham Palace in 1974.
Maybe they put them in magazines targeting men and skipped Better Homes & Gardens.

 

[Mikawa Ossan]

I have a friend from Onomichi (which is a really nice town, btw)! I'll have to ask her if she's treating her husband per the official guidelines. LOL

 

[johnnyG]

Lose a comma (I'll skip adding an apostrophe), and this would almost read very differently. I won't say it, ...let's see what you think:

Onomichi City apologizes after advising pregnant women to massage husbands cook, and clean"

 

[Majestic]

My cook gets a massage, but I don't?
I won't stand for it.

I'm taking my VanHeusen shirt collection, and I'm leaving.

 

[thomas]

I think the original headline read:

"Japanese city apologizes after advising pregnant women to clean, cook, and massage their husbands."

 

[Majestic]

Like a large meatloaf.

 

[Grandpa Frank]

 

[Mikawa Ossan]

Hey, clean and massage me all you like, but please don't cook me! That's all I ask.