A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF WOMEN AND ASSETS IN JAPAN AND BRITAIN

Housing and land have become main sources of asset accumulation and cultural capital, citizenship and identity. It is traditionally a sphere of consumption from which women have been excluded and from which they have been unable to enjoy financial rewards. However, in both Britain and Japan more women are gaining access to housing/land ownership and other material assets. This study will develop a comparative framework in order to expand our understanding of the extent and nature of the assets of women in Britain and Japan, with a particular focus on housing/property and land. Through a national social survey and an analysis of secondary data sets it will establish the distribution of assets amongst women, how the assets were accumulated, the benefits accruing from the assets and whether in the context of changing welfare regimes they are increasing or decreasing security for women.