Women as "Birth-giving Machines"

"Japan's health minister described women as ''birth-giving machines'' in a speech on the falling birthrate, drawing criticism despite an immediate apology. ''The number of women between the ages of 15 and 50 is fixed. The number of birth-giving machines (and) devices is fixed, so all we can ask is that they do their best per head,'' Health, Labor and Welfare Minister Hakuo Yanagisawa said in a speech Saturday, the Asahi and Mainichi newspapers reported. Yanagisawa reportedly apologized even as he made the remarks, and later told Kyodo News agency the language he used was ''too uncivil.''" By Associated Press, N. Y. Times Link to Article (last visited 1-29-07 NVS)