Thanks as always for your hard work in teaching me the Japanese language and culture! Isn't it always about expectations from society? I heard something similar about the Japanese work tradition of not leaving the office before the boss has left... Because the boss didn't leave I shouldn't leave either. The woman in your example is maybe in the same spot of not being expected when not working as long as her husband. Maybe even he doesn't honor her work. But he in this case is the only one who can lift the weight from her shoulders by saying to her your job is as worthy as mine (housework and raising kids is hard work). There must be the One who makes the first step to the change. She suffers all day long but, risks her own life and health but is also not taking care of herself by ruining it at the same time and doesn't say "Stop, this is not good for me. You, my husband, have also decided to found a family, you also have the responsibility, and not only by going to the office, but also by taking care of the kids, and doing some cleaning..." And she was not even complaining as I understood, at least not to her husband. It is maybe a deep-based mindset as you explained. Maybe I mixed up something, but in the last example are also some role model issues involved in my humble opinion.
