The schooling outcomes gap between Buraku and non-Buraku children: Effects of parental SES and parenting practices

This study examines a schooling outcomes gap between a minority group and a majority group and also the factors of the gap. The case of a Japanese group, called the Burakumin, and other Japanese (the non- Burakumin) is examined. The Burakumin have been considered to be a caste minority, and I first introduce many aspects of this group to create the whole picture of the group.; In the main analyses, American theoretical models and research findings (mainly developed in studies on the White/Black comparison) are employed, and the applicability of American models to the Japanese case is tested. Focused factors are familial ones: specifically, parental SES (socio-economic status) levels and parenting practices (parental support of schooling).; The findings are: (1) children of the Burakumin tend to perform more poorly highly in schooling than the non-Burakumin because of lower SES levels of their parents; (2) poorer schooling performance of the Burakumin also derives from poorer parental support they receive; (3) higher SES parents tend to show higher levels of parental support of schooling; (4) however, even at the same levels of SES levels and parental support of schooling, children of the Burakumin tend to show poorer schooling performance, implying the possibility of other factors (e.g., culture, neighborhood). Regardless of some inconsistency between American findings and the Japanese case (e.g., roles of school), most parts of the American findings are applicable to the results. Finally, I suggest the importance of parenting programs, which have hardly been given much attention in Japan as well as the direct financial support for minorities that have already been provided in Japan.