Introduction
What once used to be equal legal rights and status for Korean females in comparison with men has changed during times of Confucianism. Those were the times when women were not allowed to be anywhere outside their place. They were supposed to stay confined inside their families. An evening was the only time of the day when females could go outside for some time so that men could not see them. However, modern Korean society follows the current rules of interaction. The government established new laws and obligations, providing women with almost equal rights.
It results in the willingness of some females to grow independent. They are allowed entering universities while some men with lower education grades tend to turn into babysitters. On the other hand, modern Korean society will hardly appreciate women with a higher degree than men applying for a prestigious and well-paid position in the company. Though having equal status provided by laws, Korean women are still expected to cook dinner and clean after their husbands leaving South Korea in the shade of patriarchal society.
Korean Women at Work
New laws let Korean women study in universities and getting higher degrees. On the other hand, they are very unlikely to get well-paid jobs, as employers are not willing to hire them. The reason is rather clear. Since a male gets married, her only duty will be taking care of her family and husband. In other words, she will never be able to complete her duties properly. It will be difficult for her to interact with colleagues as well as meet a set of responsibilities and working requirements. When getting married, a woman will hardly perform as a team member considering the rules of behavior in Korean society.
Moreover, the situation worsens by some companies who put women under pressure forcing them to leave their positions, especially if they are about to get married or have a child. At the same time, all custody is traditionally granted to husbands and fathers in a case of a divorce” though the anxiety about the high divorce rate and the nasty endings of relationships is more elevated in the wake of the Korean Wind”.1 Such measures are taken to avoid men from taking financial, and other responsibilities in the face of their ex-husbands though “the democratic transition in Korea was an elite process”.2
One of the core problems that should not be disregarded is that the employment rate is still incredibly small, and the latest data shows that it is 55 %.3 It needs to be said that it is a significant issue because this percentage is much lower than the average. The fact that most females are talented and skillful should not be disregarded and needs to be utilized. Another issue that is worth mentioning is that women earned approximately 32 % less than men in 2013.4 However, it is imperative to say that the situation has been getting better over the years. Better working conditions will likely change the current mentality, and it will accelerate the economy. Nevertheless, the gender gap is still enormous, and it needs urgent improvement.
Korean Men at Home
Korean men have traditionally been treated as the heads of society. They take leading positions in companies and determine the lifestyle of the family. However, the latest researches show that their attitude is changing rapidly. Young males and students prefer staying as babysitters rather than fulfilling their ambitions. Many young men will agree with the position of a stay-at-home father unless society is not willing to accept such a choice. The surveys implemented by various Korean recruiting companies highlight the changing tendencies in Korean society.
On the one hand, this country still represents the world of the total patriarchal structure with a very conservative approach. On the other hand, younger generations seem to be ready for new changes. Approximately 60% of college make students would prefer staying at home after the marriage letting their future wives working shifts despite the fact Korean men are traditionally used to working “extremely long hours.”5 The key problem of the Korean society is that the majority of men are afraid of common stereotypes and prejudices dictated by an old paradigm of men in charge. Those prejudices seem to be the critical obstacle on the way to further development and changes.
The current statistics depict 177,000 men out of 5.35 million who are busy with taking care of children rather than working in companies.6 They consider their duties as their primary job. Though the figure is not very impressive, the number of stay-at-home Korean men has increased over the last six years. The latest surveys have depicted another key problem for a South Korean gender gap. Most females are afraid of having their future husbands as full-time workers because they will earn more. The income disparity appeared to be a challenge for the society representing Korean women. The primary issue that needs to be addressed is that “employers wanted more flexible labor markets, but successive governments found it hard to deliver”.7
Future Changes
The South Korean economy has faced the necessity to increase the level of males involved in the process. Women’s participation in the workforce will make it possible to enable efficient development. One of the most significant problems that should not be overlooked is that “the experts contributed to moral conservatism by not challenging the direction of rehabilitating normative families”.8 Particular measures should be taken, as the economic growth of the country is the lowest if compared with any other industrialized state. Previous steps made by the government appeared to be rather inefficient.
That is why the authorities are implementing special programs letting young mothers work. New care and educational centers provide males with the necessary support and professional background. It is entirely possible that it would increase the importance of women’s role in contemporary Korean society. They are involved in many different industries that range from education and economic fields to healthcare, sports, and legislative branches. Most of them can set themselves clear targets establishing an efficient approach while achieving prior goals. They are finally able to contribute to the development of their country and society as well.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Confucianism has determined the way women are treated in South Korea for many years. This fact should not be linked to globalization, as it “has never been a homogenous social process”.9 However, the traditional roles of housekeepers are transforming into something bigger. Those principles are fading away, which means that contemporary Korean society is prepared for changes and improvements. Fortunately, few Korean men still stick to Confucianism. They start treating women as wage earners letting them reveal their working potential. Though males still play a pivot role when it comes to house duties and families, men seem to adopt that initiative in the nearest future.
Bibliography
Gray, Kevin. Korean Workers and Neoliberal Globalization. New York: Routledge, 2008.
Harvey, David. A Brief History of Neoliberalism. New York: Oxford University Press, 2005.
Jung-a, Song. “South Korean Women Face Glass Ceiling in Workforce.”Financial Times. 2013. Web.
Koo, Hagen. Korean Workers: The Culture and Politics of Class Formation. New York: Cornell University Press, 2001.
Kim, Rose. ““Great Era” for Women in Korea, Says Hyundai’s First Female VP.” Bloomberg Business. 2014.
Kwon, June. “The Work of Waiting: Love and Money in Korean Chinese Transnational Migration”. American Anthropological Association, 477–500. New York: New York University, 2015.
Nam, In-Soo. “Korean Men Willing to Tend Home, Survey Finds.”Korean Realtime. 2011. Web.
Song, Jesook. New Millennium South Korea: Neoliberal Capitalism and Transnational Movements. New York: Routledge, 2011.
Song, Jesook. South Koreans in the Debt Crisis: The Creation of a Neoliberal Welfare Society. Durham, NC: Duke University Press, 2009.
Footnotes
- June Kwon, “The Work of Waiting: Love and Money in Korean Chinese Transnational Migration”. American Anthropological Association, 477–500 (New York: New York University, 2015), 486.
- Kevin Gray, Korean Workers and Neoliberal Globalization(New York: Routledge, 2008), 1.
- Song Jung-a, “South Korean Women Face Glass Ceiling in Workforce,” Financial Times, 2013, Web.
- Rose Kim, “Great Era” for Women in Korea, Says Hyundai’s First Female VP,” Bloomberg Business, 2014, Web.
- Hagen Koo, Korean Workers: The Culture and Politics of Class Formation (New York: Cornell University Press, 2001), 3.
- In-Soo Nam, “Korean Men Willing to Tend Home, Survey Finds,” Korean Realtime, 2011, Web.
- David Harvey, A Brief History of Neoliberalism (New York: Oxford University Press, 2005), 110.
- Jesook Song, South Koreans in the Debt Crisis: The Creation of a Neoliberal Welfare Society (Durham, NC: Duke University Press, 2009), 70.
- Jesook Song, New Millennium South Korea: Neoliberal Capitalism and Transnational Movements (New York: Routledge, 2011), 11.