In this blog post, we will explore the diverse roles modern women take on in a changing society and their value.
Historically, women had relatively less social influence compared to men, and women’s rights also fell short of men’s rights. However, as industrialization progressed and two world wars depleted the young workforce, women began filling these gaps, leading to a growing recognition of their social importance. Despite this, women’s rights remained significantly restricted compared to men’s.
The invention of the contraceptive pill in the 20th century greatly improved women’s status. The most crucial change contraception brought to women was the empowerment of individual agency over sexuality and childbearing. Margaret Sanger asserted that “contraception, which leads to freedom in sexual life and birth control, is an essential condition for women’s liberation and human progress.” Colin Blackmore, Professor at Oxford, explained that “contraception brought changes to the traditional family structure, elevated women’s status, and altered the course of human history.” With the development of the contraceptive pill, women gained the power to decide on pregnancy and childbirth, enabling them to pursue their aspirations. As the shackles of childbearing loosened, women’s participation in society increased, and their social status improved.
To examine the status of women in Korea, consider the social atmosphere of the Joseon Dynasty. Influenced by Confucian ideology, the Joseon era was a male-centered, patriarchal society. Within the family system, women’s status was significantly diminished by Confucian cultural values, ultimately relegating them to a position inferior to men and confining their activities to the home. Women thus fulfilled the status and roles of daughters, wives, and mothers who served and depended on men within the household. Women who conformed well to these roles were considered ‘lucky women’.
However, after liberation, rapid industrialization and urbanization in Korean society brought changes to family structures and values, leading to significant shifts in the position of Korean women. Women expanded their access to education and career opportunities, gradually taking on more roles within society. These changes demanded not only an increase in professional roles but also a shift in social perceptions. While modern women strive to fulfill the multiple roles demanded by a changing society, it remains true that social recognition still falls short of placing them on equal footing with men. Due to these lingering vestiges of patriarchy, the social status of women in Korea remains lower compared to other countries.
One clear indicator of the disparity in status between men and women is premarital chastity. When the term “premarital chastity” is heard, it generally evokes thoughts of female premarital chastity, not male premarital chastity. The term itself inherently contains a degree of gender discrimination. Influenced by Confucian thought during the Joseon Dynasty, Korea exhibits a stronger fixation on premarital chastity compared to other countries. The societal expectation that women must preserve their chastity or fidelity was strong even before the Joseon Dynasty, and the era itself saw the peak of this ‘veneration of female chastity’.
However, the world has changed significantly compared to the Joseon Dynasty or even just a few years ago. With the influx of more open sexual values and the improvement of women’s economic and social status, women are no longer subordinate to men. Now, many women wield social influence surpassing that of men, and many women choose to live alone without a partner. Furthermore, due to the availability of birth control pills and various contraceptive methods, women no longer need to fear pregnancy after sexual intercourse with a man. In the past, the burden of potential pregnancy after sex made women dependent on men. Now, however, women can maintain their social lives more freely and enjoy the pleasure of sex on equal terms with men. This shift has elevated women’s status and reduced the number of people insisting on premarital chastity.
Of course, this is not to say that those who value premarital chastity are foolish. Decisions based on religious or personal beliefs cannot be dismissed. Nor can those who oppose premarital chastity be labeled as sexually promiscuous. In modern society, where individual freedom is valued and gender equality is advancing, premarital chastity has shifted from an obligation to a matter of personal choice. Women now possess greater agency over their sexuality. In this modern era of heightened sexual freedom, promiscuous relationships focused solely on pleasure, the resulting destruction of families, and ethical issues like abortion deserve condemnation. However, as women’s status improves and sexual freedom increases, the wise use of these freedoms should remain a personal responsibility.
In modern society, as open-minded perceptions about sex gradually spread, the status and roles of men and women are being reevaluated. This reevaluation contributes to women having more choices and the freedom to break free from traditional norms about gender roles. Alongside this, various legal and institutional mechanisms to enhance women’s rights are being strengthened in countries worldwide, ushering in an era where women themselves take charge of leading their own lives.
