The Review of Korean Studies
- Apply for Authority
- P-ISSN1229-0076
- E-ISSN2773-9351
- SCOPUS, ESCI
ISSN : 1229-0076
Gendered Korean Colonial Modernity: “Housewifization” of Korean Colonial Women and the Reconfiguration of Domestic Work
- Downloaded
- Viewed
Abstract
This article looks at capitalist social change in colonial Korea from 1920 to 1937 and its impact on shifting nationalist discourse on women’s work and wifely domesticity. Particular attention is placed on historically appropriated gender roles accorded to Korean colonial women, especially those who were housewives in the domestic sphere. By methodologically setting the historical debate of the “wise mother and good wife” (hyeonmo yangcheo) as an analytical prism, this study deals with the question of how the Confucian patriarchal system collided with newly established social relations, and how this specific historical conjuncture conditioned the emergence of modern Korean female subjectivities. At another level, by way of analyzing the collision between Korean nationalist resolution of the “woman’s question” and the vision of highly educated Korean female intellectuals, this article ferrets out the substance and meaning of Korean female subjectivity constructed from colonial women’s working experiences and their double burden under the given modern patriarchal structure. This study also draws on the gendered implication of Korean colonial modernity, that is, not a fixed structure but a reconstitution of patriarchal relations, a process of de(con)structive constructiveness derived from continuous interactions among nationalism, colonialism, modernity and tradition relative to the making of “Koreanness” as an imagined fraternal community and a collective gendered national subject.
- keywords
- housewifization, modern creation of public and private spheres, domestic work, woman question, female subjectivity
Reference
Ahn, Taeyoon. 2001. Sikminjeongchiwa moseong: chongdongwonchejewa moseongui hyeonsil (Colonial Politics and Motherhood: Total-War Regime and the Reality of Motherhood). Seoul: Korean Studies Information Service System.
Chatterjee, Partha. 1993. The Nation and Its Fragments: Colonial and Postcolonial Histories. Princeton: Princeton University Press.
Choi, Deok-kyo. Ed. 2004. Hangukjapji baeknyeon (Korean Magazines 100 years). Seoul: Hyeonamsa.
Eisenstein, Zilla. 1979 . Capitalist Patriarchy and the Case for Socialist Feminism. New York: Monthly Review Press.
Hong, Yang-hui. 1997. Iljesigi joseonni ‘hyeonmoyangcheo’ yeoseonggwanui yeongu (A Study on the View of Womanhood, ‘A Good Wife and Wise Mother’ during Japanese Colonialism). Ph.D. dissertation, Hanyang University.
Hong, Yang-hui. 2008. “Debates about ‘A Good Wife and Wise Mother’ and Tradition in Colonial Korea.” The Review of Korean Studies 11: 4.
Janeway, Elizabeth. 1971. Man’s World Women’s Place: A Study of Social Myth. New York: Morrow.
Jayawardena, Kumari. 1986. Feminism and Nationalism in the Third World. London: Zed Press.
Kang, Yi-su. 2005. “Iljeha geundae yeoseong servicejikui yuhyeonggwa siltae” (The Types and Realities of Modern Female Service Jobs). Feminizm yeongu 5.
Kang, Yi-su. 2004. “Geundae yeoseongui ilgwa jikeop” (Modern Women’s Work and their View of Work). Sahoewa yeoksa 65.
Kim, Dong-no. ed. 2006. Ilje sikminjusigiui tongchicheje hyeongseong (The Formation of the Ruling System in the Japanese Colonial Period). Seoul: Haean.
Kim, H. Elaine and Chungmoo Choi, eds. 1998. Dangerous Women: Gender and Korean Nationalism. New York: Routledge.
Kim, Hae-kyeong. 1999. “Gasanodong damrongwa hangk gendaegasok: 1920, 30nyeondaereul jungsimeuro” (Discourse of domestic labor and Korean modern family: focusing on the 1920s and 30s). Hangukyeoseinghak 15: 1
Kim, Hae-kyeong. 2006. Sikminjiha keundaegajokui hyeongseonggwa jendeo (The Formation of the Modern Family under the Colonial Period and Gender).Seoul: Changbisa.
Kim, Kyeong-il. 2004. Yeoseongui geundae Geundaeui yeoseong (The Modern of Female, Female of the Modern). Seoul: Pureunyeoksa.
Kim, Kyeong-il. 2002 “Iljeha yeoseongui ilgwa jikeop” (Women’s Work and Job in the Japanese Period). Sahoewa yeoksa 61.
Kim, Seoung-hee. 2002. “Jeontongsahoe yeoseongui sajeok yeongyeokgwa gongjeok yeongyeokeseoui nodong” (Women’s Labor in Private and Public Spheres in Traditional Society). Hangukgajeonggwanrihakhoeji 6.
Kim, Su-jin. 2005. “1920-30nyeondae sinyeoseong damnongwa sangjinguiguseong” (A Discourse on the New-Style Woman and the Composition of Symbols during the 1920s-1930s). Ph.D. dissertation, Seoul National University.
Kawamoto Aya (1999), “Joseonkwa ilbone isseoseoui hyeonmo yangcheo sasange kwanhan bigyo yeongu” (A Comparative Study of “Wise mother Good wife” Ideology in Joseon and Japan, M.A. thesis, Seoul National Unviersity.
Kweon Sug-In, “Ilbonjeguksidae(1968-1945)ui yeoseongui jiwi” (Women’s Statius during the Imperial Japan (1868-1945): Political Conservation and the emergence of “Good Wife, Wise Mother” Ideology). Hangukmunhwainryuhak 30:1.
Mies, Maria. 1986. Patriarchy and Accumulation on a World Scale: Women in the International Division of Labor. London: Zed Press.
Mohanram, Rdhika. 1999. Black Body: Women, Colonialism and Space. Minnesota: University of Minnesota Press.
Mohanty, Chandra et.al. eds. 1991. Third World Women. Bloomington: Indian University Press.
Park, Seon-mi. 2004. “Gaseonghakiraneun geundaejeok jisikui hoekdeuk: iljeha yeojailbonyuhaksaengeul jungsimeuro”(The Acquisition of Home Economics as Modern Knowledge: Focusing on Female Students who studied in Japan during the colonial period). Yeoseonghaknonjip 24:2.
Shin, Young-sook. 1989. “Iljesigi yeoseongundonggaui saenghwalgwa hwaldongyangsang” Life and Activities of Female Activist under the Japanese Colonial Period). Hanguk yeoseonghak 1.
West, Lois. 1997. Feminist Nationalism. London: Routledge.
Yi, Jeong-ok. 1990. “Iljeha hangukui gyeongje hwaldongeseoui minjokbyeol chaiwa seongbyeolchai” (Differences of Nations and Gender in the Economic Activities under the Japanese Colonial Period). Sahoewa yeoksa 4.
Yubal-Davis, Nira. 1997. Gender and Nation. London: Saga.
Yu, Hae-Jeong. 1999. “Ilje sikminji haui yeoseong jeongchaek”(Female policy in the Japanese colonial period), Uri Yeoseongui History (Our women’s History). Seoul: Cheongnyeonsa.
“Cheyukmunjejwadamhoe” (Round-table Discussion on the Problem of Physical Training). Singajeong, March, 1934.
“Gajeongbueopui pilyo” (The Necessity of Side-jobs for the Home). Sindonga ,October, 1933.
“Gajeonggwa nampyeonui museongui”(Insincerity in the Home and in the Husband). Yeoseong, October, 1937.
“Gyeolhamui mi”(The Beauty of Possessing a Defect). Singajeong, September, 1935.
“Jieopbuuinui ilgi” (Diaries of Working Women). Sindonga, January, 1933.
“Moseongeurosseoui yeoja” (Woman as Motherhood). Yeoseong, June, 1936.
“Moseongjungsimui gajeonggyoyuk” (Motherhood-centered Female Education). Sinyeoseong, January, 1935.
“Mulga deunggwiwa jubuui gako” (Prices Rise and the Resolution of the Housewife). Yeoseong, April, 1937.
“Nongchon gajeonggwa saenghwalgaeseonchak” (The Rural Home and Strategies for the Reform of Customs). Sindonga, November, 1932.
“Saenghwal jeonseone naseon jikeopbuinsunrye: geudeului saenghwalgwa pobu”(A Pilgrimage on Working Women in the Front Line of the Job-Market: Their Livelihood and Vision). Byeolgeongon, June, 1930.
“Salrimeul eojjihamyeon haengbokhan gajeongi doelkka” (How to Make a Happy Home and Run a Household). Jogwang, September, 1936.
“Sinyeoseongdeuleun nampyeonui bapgwa okeul jieobon jeo?” (Does the New Korean Woman Cook Rice for her Husband?). Samcheonri, July, 1931.
“Sonjeongjassiui takasoseolchireul deutgo” (After Hearing the Opinion of Ms. Son Jeong-ja on Constructing a Nursery). Singajeong, May, 1935.
“Yeohakseang teupjippyeon-jeohuideuli baraneun geok myeokgaji” (Special Edition-a Few Things We Want). Byeolgeongon, July, 1927.
“Yeoja cheyukmunjejwadamhoe” (Round-table Discussion on the Problem of Female Physical Training). Singajeong, September, 1933.
“Yeoja sport teukjip” (Special Edition on Female Sport). Singajeong, September, 1933.
“Yeojaga bon namja gaejoron, namjaga bon yeoja gaejoron” (Reform of Man from a Female Perspective, Reform of Woman from a Male Perspective). Byeolgeongon, January, 1930.
“Yeojaui jigeopgwa geu uiui” (Women’s Job and its Significance). Singajeong , April, 1924.
“Yeoryujakga jwadamhoe” (Round-table Discussion of Female Writers). Samcheonri, February, 1935.
“Yeoseong munje jwadamhoe” (Round-table Discussion of Female Issues). Sindonga, November, 1932.
“Yeoseonggye sipyeong” (Comments on Female Society). Singajeong, January, 1936.
“Yuhanbuinege ileon: meonjeo saenghwalgaeseone himeul sseura(A Message to Leisured Women: Do Your Best for Home Improvement). Singajeong, September, 1935.
“Yuka munjewa urideul” (The Problem of Child-Rearing and Us). Samcheonri, April, 1933.
Jeon, Ae-rok. “Moseongaewa gajeonggyoyuk” (Motherhood and Home Education). Yeoseong, April, 1937.
Kim, Young-ae. “Yeojawa cheyuk” (Women and Physical Education). Sindonga, March, 1935.
Kim, Hwal-ran “Jikeopjeonseongwa Joseon yeoseong”(Front Line of Jobs and Korean Women). Sindonga, September, 1932.
Park, Bong-ae. “Gajeongbuingwa cheyuk” (Housewives and Gymnastics). Yeoseong, June, 1936.
Shin, Bo-seok. “Sinyeoseongui gajeongcheolhak” (The Philosophy of Home of the New Woman). Sindonga, June, 1932.
Shin, Gap-su. “Joseon yeojawa yukchemi” (Joseon Female and the Physical Beauty). Singajeong, September, 1935.
U, Han-saeng. “Hyeondaejok jubuga doera” (To Become a Modern Housewife). Sindonga, October, 1932.
Yi, Kwang-su. “Moseong” (Motherhood). Yeoseong, May, 1936.
Yi, Kwang-su. “Moseongjungsimui yeojagyoyuk”(Motherhood centered Women’s Education). Sinyeoseong, 1925
- Downloaded
- Viewed
- 0KCI Citations
- 0WOS Citations