Paola Cavaliere, Articulating the neoliberal motherhood discourse: visions of gender in Japanese new religions

Most doctrinal understandings of gender in Japanese new religions consist of a tolerant approach that sacralizes motherhood and family while acknowledging the need for a women-friendly society where women can become more involved in the economy. This chapter investigates how women adherents of three Japanese new religions (Risshō kōseikai, Sōka Gakkai and God Light Association) articulate such a neoliberal motherhood discourse, while offering them opportunities to examine their life-choices to live more affirmatively.