Consistency or Change in Women's Politicization in South Korea

Abstract

Using 1982 and 1990 survey data, this paper examines the extent to which the gender gap in politicization has persisted and/or changed in South Korea. The core emphasis of the paper is on whether economic development and generational turnover hove reduced gender inequality in some altitudes–psychological involvement, protest potential, system trust–that are important for political activity. The findings indicate that both economic development and generational shift have narrowed the gender gap in politicization over an eight‐year period. It should be emphasized, however, that the socio‐political structure has not caught up with Korean women's attitudinal changes, thus resulting in a phenomenon of “institutional lag.”