Comparing Family Backgrounds: Relative Comparison and Youth Perceptions of Inequality in Japan

抄録

This paper examines comparative awareness of family background among Japanese youth using survey data collected from young adults in Japan. The analysis revealed that young people recognize differences in family background not only through economic conditions, but also through multidimensional experiences embedded in everyday life, including educational environments, cultural experiences, lifestyles, and residential environments. In addition, while school peers were the primary comparison targets, comparisons through social media and other forms of media were also observed to a certain extent.
Furthermore, differences in family background were recognized through experiences such as visiting friends’ homes, learning about parents’ occupations and working styles, noticing differences in housing conditions and possessions, extracurricular activities and educational pathways, and travel experiences. These findings suggest that inequality becomes visible through everyday comparative experiences.
The academic contribution of this paper lies in its descriptive examination of inequality perceptions among Japanese youth from the perspective of “comparative experience.” Whereas previous studies on inequality have mainly focused on objective indicators such as household income and parental education, this paper specifically demonstrates with whom, and in what situations, young people perceive differences in family background. In particular, the paper highlights the possibility that everyday spaces such as schools and social media function as important sites where inequality is experienced and given meaning.