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2017 | Tom 2 | 84-103

Article title

Feminism and Nationalism in South Korea: Empowering Korean Women During the Nation-Building Process

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EN

Abstracts

EN
Since the time of its emergence in the late 19th century, Korean feminism had close ties with the development of nationalism, which initially opposed the political conservatism of the Joseon Dynasty and later opposed the aggressive colonial regime that hampered the establishment of a nation-state. After liberation from the Japanese colonialism, Korean feminism developed within as pro-government, nationalistic ideology (conservative groups), and as the movement for democratization (progressists). The inextricable link between nationalism and feminism led to the creation of diversity of feminist concepts and views on the nature of women’s liberation, which equally, though differently, was comprised by Korean nationalists. The liberalization of South Korean politics and economy at the end of 1980s – early 1990s resulted in the emergence of postmodern feminism, which raised essentially new issues of women’s development such as the elimination of domestic violence against women, protection of rights of sexual minorities, elimination of discrimination against women in the labor market, etc. Thus, the evolution of Korean feminist ideology reflects the significant challenges of national development in the nation-building process.

Year

Volume

Pages

84-103

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Dates

published
2017-12-01

Contributors

author
  • University of Moscow

References

  • The publication was prepared within the framework of the Academic Fund Program at the National Research University Higher School of Economics (HSE) in 2017-2018 (grant № 17-010073) and by the Russian Academic Excellence Project “5-100”.
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  • Cit. by Park Chan-seung, The Nation and Nationalism (민족-민족주의), Seoul: Doseo chulpan sohwa, 2010, p. 229.
  • Kim Hei-sook, Feminist Philosophy in Korea: Subjectivity of Korean Women, p. 248.
  • Koh Whang-kyung, The Status of Women in Korea, p. 155.
  • Ibidem.
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  • Shim Young-hee, ‘Changes of Women’s Policy in Korea During the Recent 30 Year’, Gender and Society 6 (2), 2007, p. 12.
  • Kim Seung-kyung, The Korean Women’s Movement and the State: Bargaining for Change, p. 23.
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  • Shim Young-hee, Changes of Women’s Policy in Korea During the Recent 30 Year, p. 20.
  • Interview with Pae Eun-kyung, professor of sociology and women's studies at Seoul National University, 24.08.2016. Audio-file.
  • Yoon Soon Young, The Labor of Women: Work and Family, p.752.
  • Ibid., p. 751.
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  • Kim Seung-kyung, The Korean Women’s Movement and the State: Bargaining for Change, p. 26.
  • Ibid., p. 28.
  • Yoon Soon Young, The Labor of Women: Work and Family, p.754.
  • Chun Kyung Ock, ‘Women’s Political Empowerment in Korea: Legitimacy and Prospects’, Asian Women 2, 1996, p. 43.
  • Park Kyung-Ae, ‘Political Representation and South Korean Women’, The Journal of Asian Studies, Vol. 58, No.2, 1999, p. 440.
  • Oh Kyung Jin, ‘Women’s Political Participation in South Korea and Activist Organizations’, Asian Journal of Women’s Studies 22(3), 2016, p. 340; Lee Hui-suk, Local Self-Government and Women’s Political Empowerment (지방자치와 여성의 정치세력화), Seoul: Dasan chulpansa, 2016, pp. 79-86.

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Publication order reference

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bwmeta1.element.desklight-8be79aba-b17d-435a-8699-4b3eb0cce552
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