Breaking the Molds by Jiyun Choi

Being the only one in class who couldn’t bring her mother to school for Mother’s Day was definitely not a joyful experience for an eight year old. My mother couldn’t come to school that day because she had to work. I watched in silence that day, as every other kid in class recited their poems while their mothers took photos and smiled proudly at them at the back of the class. When my mother returned home from work late at night that day, I let out the tears that I have been holding all day long, and screamed at her saying ‘I wish you were normal!’ Normal. Back then, to an eight year old child who knew nothing about a glass ceiling, hardworking businesswomen were not ‘normal’. 

Growing up, I started realizing that my mother was not the one who ‘wasn’t normal’. I was frustrated when the boys in my class called me a ‘weirdo’ for trying out for the athletes’ club. I was confused when the teacher told me that there was no need for me to carry heavy books for her, when she smiled at me and said that she could ‘easily ask another male student to do it for her’. I was angry when my male friends expected me to do all the cooking and cleaning when we went camping because ‘I was the woman.’ I realized that something was wrong. But it wasn’t me. It was the molds that society had created. Molds about what a female ‘should do’ and ‘shouldn’t do’. Molds about what a female ‘must be like’. Molds, that society expects women to cram themselves into. 

Gender inequality has taken place in South Korean society ages ago. Stereotypes about gender roles and about what women ‘should be like’ were derived from patriarchal ideologies. Such ideologies have been a fundamental part of South Korean society for a long time, since the entire social system was based on 

these beliefs. The problem is that the majority of people think of gender inequality and gender roles as something that is perfectly natural, something that ‘makes sense’ even. Even now, during national holidays like New Year’s Day or Chuseok, women are the ones who cook food and do the dishes, and serve food when other family members come over to visit. However, people would think that this is perfectly normal. The other way around would be considered ‘unusual’. Even women would do nothing else but simply sigh when they hear about those ‘unusual and progressive families’, and say ‘I envy you. I was supposed to cook and clean all along.’ To break the molds, it is important that the people change their views and break their stereotypes. In order to do so, people no matter their gender or age, must regularly receive education about gender equality through campaigns, seminars, and more. This should be conducted by the government on a regular basis, so that every single person is able to acknowledge the importance of gender equality. 

Moreover, policies should change. Many female workers in South Korea feel uncomfortable about taking maternity leaves, because of the fact that they would not be able to earn their wages when there already is a significant wage gap between them and the male workers. This resulted to a majority of women to decide not to give birth to a child at all, and lowered the fertility rates of South Korea in general. Therefore, the government should guarantee equal amounts of wages for female workers and also guarantee enough financial support for them to take maternity leaves and take care of their children at ease. The positive change of gender awareness and the change of policies would altogether contribute to making a society where both men and women would be able to be respected and acknowledged. It is time for all of us to break the molds of South Korean society.