Chapter 7: Conclusion
This research set out to explore the housing circumstances of women in Britain andJapan particularly in relation to asset accumulation associated with housing and land.
This was always going to be a challenging task given the distance between theresearch teams, and the differences in terms of language, systems and culturalpractices. An initial assumption was that substantial economic and social change inthe last few decades might have impacted on women’s activity in the housing market
and, more particularly in relation to potential access of the wealth accumulation andcultural capital that might accompany owner occupation. This hypothesis was set in
the context of women’s employment patterns, types of employment, savings andinvestments, and income. The report indicates that there has been substantial socialchange that has impacted on women in a variety of ways although this is more evident
in Britain than in Japan. Many of the assumptions, practices and policies related towomen have become outmoded and no longer reflect the reality of women’s everyday
life.

For some women in Britain opportunity, choice and autonomy are moreaccessible than ever before. Increasing incomes and employment opportunities haveenhanced the status of women, given them the financial means to access housing
independently, and in turn has facilitated assess to a major source of asset
accumulation in the UK. It also seems to be the case, however, that the experiencesof women, always differentiated, have now become more polarised than ever before.
Whilst an increasing number of women are gaining access to the cultural capital,
economic citizenship and asset accumulation associated with owner occupation inBritish society, for others low income, residualised social housing, exclusion andexposure to the increasingly punitive state would appear to offer few opportunities forempowerment, participation and asset accumulation. In Japan the survey indeed
highlights changes in the nature of women’ work but it still appears to be the case thatpatterns of work remain fairly consistent. Although women are having children
slightly later it is still the case that they are most likely to leave the labour market
once children arrive. It is also the case that the majority of single women are likely toremain in the parental home until their mid-30s rather than enter owner occupation,
the assumption being that this will occur when married and that the mortgage/property－ 45 －

will most likely be in the name of the husband. Possibly home ownership is notconsidered such a source of asset accumulation in Japan as in Great Britain given therecent housing recession and the current cost of land and property. An interesting
study would be on the attitudes of young people to owner occupation in both countries.
So the survey is revealing in that both countries have experienced substantial socialchange but in Japan there appears to be greater continuity than in Britain. In Britain
more women have access to mortgaged owner-occupation and the asset accumulationthat it has the potential to provide. However, it is also the case that the circumstancesof women in Britain appear more polarised as a substantial minority of women areunable to access home ownership because of low income and limited educational andemployment opportunities. It is very much the case in Britain that class and ethnicity
cross-cut with gender to influence patterns of participation, wealth accumulation andhome ownership amongst women.

－ 46 －References
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