Gender Bias in the use of Teknonymy as Spousal Terms: Insights from Online Surveys in China, South Korea, and Japan

Abstract

This study aims to uncover gender bias in the use of teknonymy as spousal terms through online surveys conducted in China, South Korea, and Japan. The study focuses on how married individuals address their spouses in private settings. The findings reveal that teknonymy is significantly more prevalent in Japan and South Korea than in China, with usage patterns in the former two countries varying according to age and educational background. In contrast, the use of teknonymy in China is infrequent and relatively unaffected by these factors. In Japan and South Korea, teknonymy is more frequently employed by women, suggesting the continued influence of traditional gender norms that reinforce patriarchal family structures and male authority. Despite these patterns, evidence of generational and educational shifts suggests a gradual transformation toward more egalitarian modes of spousal terms. The cross-national differences observed in this study highlight the complex interaction among language, culture, and gender, and underline the need for further research into the sociocultural factors that shape evolving spousal terms in contemporary Asian societies.