Talk:Stereotype-busters: Korean Women are passive

From WikEd

To add to the stereotype-buster that Korean Women are passive, I found some information about important political movements led by Korean women on the following Web site http://www.eroseffect.com/speaking/Movements.PDF.

Here is an exerpt from the paper "Women and Democratization Movements: A Comparative Perspective" by George Katsiaficas*: In the 20th century, as Korea industrialized, women were a majority of the factory workers. In the 1930s, they comprised 61% of factory workers.10 By 1970, industrial worksites with more than 10 employees counted 360,000 women workers among their members, a number that grew to 1,090,000 by 1978. These women were concentrated in textile, fiber, clothing and electronics industries, often in free trade zones where unions were illegal and the daily wage was only 500 won (at the time 1 dollar was 480 won). Men were paid double that amount. In the area around Pyong Hwa (Peace) market, girls aged 12 to 17 labored 16 hours per day—often seven days a week—in dusty decrepit attics in textile shops where they barely made enough to cover their bus fare to work. Under such dreadful conditions, Chun Tae-il committed suicide in 1970 to call attention to their desperation. Women mobilized to win human rights and democratic unions. (Where unions did exist, they were company or yellow unions). In 1970, 165 strikes broke out, and by 1974, the number grew to 666.11 Women workers comprised and led a self-governed and democratic labor movement throughout the 1970s.

Donna- I found many parallels between your writing and my own about Chinese Americans being quiet and passive. I recognized some of the same cultural factors, especially Confucianism, and I like the inclusion of pieces of those articles. I thought it was important that you brought up the idea of double consciousness. Enthic minorities have to deal with all kinds of opposing identity factors. For women in a lot of cultures, they bear an added burden. They are expected to serve, to raise children, to listen, but not to question. It is difficult to juggle all of these misconceptions and to reconcile them with who you really are. -Marni Guerra

Hi Donna, I found your suggestions to the teacher very useful. I will take into consideration the passive tendancy of some of my students regardless of gender qand culture into account. You have good ideas in helping ALL passive students take leadership roles. --Raul Gaston