SDLC 111 Fifth Culture Post

[Hongzhen Chen]

The cultural presentation I did is about Korean housewife culture and the social status of Korean women. Women in South Korea have experienced great improvement in social status over the last 30 years, however there are still major inequalities in workforce and political participation. Most young women, even those who are well-educated and have professional positions, will leave their jobs as soon as they are married due to family and husband expectations.In fact, most Korean companies will dismiss their women employees once they married. As a result, less than 15% of married women in contemporary Korea work outside the home.Looking back to the history, the traditional role of a Korean woman has been submissive and confined to the home.A woman was expected to produce sons and take care of parents-in-law.There has been a increase in the number of women joining the workforce, the gender wage gap in Korea is still the worst among OECD countries. The Korean housewife culture has contributed to many negative social impacts such as the "bored housewife syndrome", neurotic symptoms for those housewives who experience unenjoyable family life. Positive impacts of housewife culture would be the contribution to the development of Korean dramas, especially those build on housewife lives. Despite the many promises the woman president Park Geun-Hye has promised, there are still less manifested, and I think the way for a true woman's revolution in Korea is still very long.