| This is the first attempt to investigate the phenomena of reentry shock of the wives of returning Japanese corporate sojourners. This study examines data from 28 in depth, face to face, 90 minute interviews, and 340 self-administered questionnaires sent to Japanese housewives who lived in the U.S. and returned to Japan. The interviews and survey were conducted in 1995 in Japanese. Both quantitative (survey) and qualitative methods (phenomenology/hermeneutics) were used to investigate the phenomena of reentry shock of returnee mothers in more depth. Results of the study reveal that reintegration at home after sojourn not only contains some stress and discomfort, physical health issues and illness, but also some special problems for most returnee mothers: (1) problems in primary relationships (i.e., husband, parents, relatives, friends), (2) problems in daily functions (i.e., children, house, financial problems, husband's job, neighbors), and (3) the wife's job related problems. The women's value change is the most powerful predictor associated with reentry shock and reentry problems. Children's educational problems in Japan (i.e., children's readjustment to school and mother's satisfaction with child' education) have significant direct effect on reentry shock and problems in daily functions. Gender role orientations have significant impact on problems in primary relationship and problems in daily functions. Marital satisfaction has significant direct effect on problems in primary relationships and problems in daily functions. Communication with host country during the sojourn has significant direct impact on reentry shock. Phenomenological analysis explicated how four factors of: (1) space, time, and emotion in Japanese urban cities, (2) space, time, and emotion in Japanese corporate/school organization, (3) space, time, and emotion in Japanese human relationships, and (4) spatial and emotional separation between men and women in Japan influenced returning mother's life. The findings of phenomenological analysis lend support to most of the quantitative findings in the study. Value change and the widened hermeneutical horizon for these mothers occurred after living in the U.S. Upon their reentry, comparison is unavoidable and a new identity emerged with these contrasted differences. These differences made the returning mothers feel alienated in their native culture, the essence of reentry shock. The interview data show that those who learned English, participated in voluntary activities, learned new skills, and attended parties or invited Americans to their homes during the U.S. sojourn were empowered. However, after returning home, the mothers experienced disempowerment and experienced difficulty in creating or sustaining a healthy relational context, which resulted in reentry problems. |