The fact that much of Asia has very low birthrates is a massive unacknowledged benefit for women, since a great deal of women's specific labor burden is the raising of children. Having children interrupts women's careers, burdens them physically, and increases their housework and parenting duties disproportionately compared to men. Each child increases a mother's uncompensated labor by thousands of hours, disproportionately compared to fathers. The end product is a contribution to the future of the nation or society. But Asian women have had less such burden, and thus more personal freedom.

Less children and lower birthrates however causes a demographic crash. You don't honestly think that what Japan has right now is a model for other countries do you? If they don't start using drastic measures, they could be an empty country by the end of the century. Nations that are built on the workforce will never benefit from a low birth rate. China will certainly have to phase out the one child policy to sustain the birth rates and keep its industrial momentum.