More Than a Handmaiden: A History of Korea's Gender Equalizing

Print copy available by purchasing Spring 2008 issue of Taekwondo Times

More Than a Handmaiden
A History of Korea’s Gender Equalizing

Like many nations around the globe, women living in Korea have overcome inequalities and have seen their role both with family and in the workplace evolve dynamically over the years. From arranged brides to corporate CEOs, Korean women have had a long journey to prove themselves, however today they enjoy many benefits long fought for.

Korea, primarily an agricultural society, has always thrived off of their family values and weighted importance on tightly knit clans. Many Koreans have believed (and continue to believe), that social status’ ultimate prize is found in the presence of a large family, meaning Korean women for generations were considered to be “baby factories” and homemakers.
The idea of large families equaling prosperity was such a powerful concept within Korea, that many blended and intermarried with families from nearby villages in order to find this power in numbers. For this reason, there are a dozen or so surnames that are incredibly popular and common in Korea. While two families from the same region may share a last name however, it was forbidden to marry relatives, meaning that Koreans are able to describe their exact heritage to prove this was not done. This is especially important knowledge for a Korean woman who is then able to take an outward pride in her family, as she represents it to anyone who comes to the home for a visit.

Korea started out as a male-centric society and its religious foundation in Confucian viewpoints only solidified the patriarchal dominance in the 1300s. Confucianism is based upon the ideals of order and power, meaning fathers are expected to provide for the family. Women in ancient Korea up until fairly recently were mandated to respect and honor their husband and the father of their children, with no regard as to whether or not she in actuality disagrees. This amount of honor and reverence is so great, that women were expected to also be submissive and respectful toward their ancestral fathers, known as “filiopiety.”

Some women in Korean culture still follow this rule, and in most Korean families, the eldest members are revered and served first. Women were (and still some are) expected to be silent and subservient to elder family members, allowing them to eat and drink before the women even begin. It was also vital Korean women train their children to address elders and men with honoring titles and formal greetings including traditional bowing.

As previously mentioned, women in historical Korea had no other choice but to be home makers. They were expected to rear the children, tend to the house and prepare all meals for the men and elders. If you happened to be a woman working on or near a farm, your duties on top of the typical housekeeping included spending long hours in the field.

Arranged marriages were typical of past culture and still are somewhat common in Korea today. Women were expected to submit to all males in the household, and also to the eldest woman in the home. Because of the lack of freedom and insurmountable work to be done, many Korean women teamed together to harvest or repair homes. Today, that tradition has carried through to women pooling resources and finances together for important events such as weddings or funerals.

Today, while culture and family remain integral parts of Korean life, women have many more freedoms than before. Women are found working outside of the home just as often as an American family would, and their rights have been equalized. All of this is a result of Westernization in Asian nations. Modern media from newspapers to television sitcoms have infiltrated into Korean culture, progressing the privileges of women. As in many formerly patriarchal societies, government has also played a large role in the development of women gaining advantages within their own culture. In recent years, Korea’s government has made notable efforts toward gender equality. This began with the start of the Women’s Development Act and the Presidential Commission for Women’s Affairs. One of the most recent evolvements was found in the 21st Century Gender Equality Charter and the annual Equal Employment Week which began in 2001.

Fortunately for Korean women, equality in the workplace and in society is becoming a reality for more than just one week out of the year. Women are now able to apply for jobs formerly not available to them, such as positions in not only government but technology, science, and medicine as well. The days of homemaking and schoolteaching are dwindling, as Korean women are beginning to take the reins in their own nation.

While women have evolved within the Korean culture, a few traditional practices remain. One of the major ones takes us back to the concept of marriage. When a Korean woman marries, she literally is excommunicated from her own family. While this does not mean she no longer speaks to her relatives, her name is in fact literally stricken off of her ancestral record and added to her husband’s ancestry instead. This can be a difficult transition for a new bride, as she is not usually recognized as a loved member of her husband’s family either, until the first son is born.
While Korea is a country rich in history and tradition to which they still hold fast, it is with great pride Korean women take advantage of their new freedoms and abilities. A working woman in Korea is a sign of progress, victorious challenges, and a modern way of thinking that continually helps to boost the prosperity of Korea as a nation.