The Fight for Gender Equality and its Repercussions in South Korea
Presenter Type
UNO Undergraduate Student
Major/Field of Study
Architectural Engineering
Other
Architectural Engineering
Author ORCID Identifier
N/A
Advisor Information
Assistant Professor of Political Science at UNO
Location
MBSC Ballroom Poster # 1203 - U
Presentation Type
Poster
Start Date
24-3-2023 10:30 AM
End Date
24-3-2023 11:45 AM
Abstract
A long line of research shows that there is often a realignment in gender policies in developed postindustrial democracies that tend to favor gender equality (Inglehart and Norris 2003). This stems from generational shifts, in which younger people are less likely to believe in “male superiority” (Inglehart and Norris 2005).
Do people in South Korea fully support gender equality? To what extent do younger people, who have had ample exposure to democratic ideas and principles, support it? What are the repercussions, if any, the push for gender equality has faced in the country? This study aims to answer these questions by investigating attitudes towards gender equality and its repercussions in South Korea. Although South Korea is a consolidated democracy, the country continues to struggle with high levels of gender inequality that stem from a long history of traditionalism and patriarchy. The World Economic Forum and United Nations reports rank South Korea’s gender gap as one of the widest in the developed world. And while significant efforts have been made recently to overcome this issue, this has also brought about growing grievances among young Korean men, leading to a rise of organizations that combat support for gender equality (Kim 2017).
What these recent dynamics in contemporary South Korea demonstrate is that the fight for gender equality, seen through elite rhetoric and gender-related policies, has brought about a growing conservative backlash that manifests itself through growing anti-feminist sentiments among young Korean men. Rather than viewing these measures as a way to break the glass ceiling and to overcome systemic gender equality, many young Korean men, who are presumably more liberal than previous generations, believe that these efforts lead to preferential treatment of women. Ultimately, these increasing anti-feminist sentiments not only undermine social efforts to push gender equality but it also indicates that gendered attitudes are increasing in South Korea.
While gendered attitudes and theories of democratization have been analyzed in tandem frequently, they have been largely divorced in the case of South Korea. This project is the first to systematically examine this seemingly counterintuitive phenomenon from the perspective of democratization. The broad message of the project will be that, while the push for gender equality may help in the long run, growing grievances from younger men will continue to engender alternative conflicts and points of disagreement, which may intensify the tension between democratic consolidation and gender equality in South Korea.
Scheduling
10:45 a.m.-Noon
The Fight for Gender Equality and its Repercussions in South Korea
MBSC Ballroom Poster # 1203 - U
A long line of research shows that there is often a realignment in gender policies in developed postindustrial democracies that tend to favor gender equality (Inglehart and Norris 2003). This stems from generational shifts, in which younger people are less likely to believe in “male superiority” (Inglehart and Norris 2005).
Do people in South Korea fully support gender equality? To what extent do younger people, who have had ample exposure to democratic ideas and principles, support it? What are the repercussions, if any, the push for gender equality has faced in the country? This study aims to answer these questions by investigating attitudes towards gender equality and its repercussions in South Korea. Although South Korea is a consolidated democracy, the country continues to struggle with high levels of gender inequality that stem from a long history of traditionalism and patriarchy. The World Economic Forum and United Nations reports rank South Korea’s gender gap as one of the widest in the developed world. And while significant efforts have been made recently to overcome this issue, this has also brought about growing grievances among young Korean men, leading to a rise of organizations that combat support for gender equality (Kim 2017).
What these recent dynamics in contemporary South Korea demonstrate is that the fight for gender equality, seen through elite rhetoric and gender-related policies, has brought about a growing conservative backlash that manifests itself through growing anti-feminist sentiments among young Korean men. Rather than viewing these measures as a way to break the glass ceiling and to overcome systemic gender equality, many young Korean men, who are presumably more liberal than previous generations, believe that these efforts lead to preferential treatment of women. Ultimately, these increasing anti-feminist sentiments not only undermine social efforts to push gender equality but it also indicates that gendered attitudes are increasing in South Korea.
While gendered attitudes and theories of democratization have been analyzed in tandem frequently, they have been largely divorced in the case of South Korea. This project is the first to systematically examine this seemingly counterintuitive phenomenon from the perspective of democratization. The broad message of the project will be that, while the push for gender equality may help in the long run, growing grievances from younger men will continue to engender alternative conflicts and points of disagreement, which may intensify the tension between democratic consolidation and gender equality in South Korea.
Additional Information (Optional)
N/A