Female visibility through Korean literature: Feminist theological critique

Eun Ok Jeong,Yolanda Dreyer

doi:10.4102/hts.v59i2.657

Abstract

This article introduces Korean women’s experience as seen through the lense of social and cultural backgrounds, from the premodern through to the postmodern era. Korean literature is used as a source to investigate Korean women’s experiences and perspectives. By means of feminist critique this article explores men-centered influences in Korean literature. It aims to illustrate the importance of the issue of female visibility through Korean literature from a Korean woman’s perspective. Two texts are analyzed and critiqued: the first is the myth of Korean origin. The second is a story of Gasi Gogi (a thorny fish). The article is intended to stimulate debate on gender, voices, and authority from a feminist perspective, in order to transcend the more traditional interpretations.

Highlights

This article introduces Korean women’s experience as seen through the lenses of social and cultural backgrounds from the premodern through to the postmodern era
The aim is to illustrate the importance of the issue of female visibility through Korean literature from a Korean woman’s perspective
Two texts will by analyzed and critiqued: the first is the myth of Korean origin, which is an ancient novel

Summary

INTRODUCTION

This article introduces Korean women’s experience as seen through the lenses of social and cultural backgrounds from the premodern through to the postmodern era. As the world changed from premodern to modern to postmodern, the position of Korean women changed and has improved. Female visibility through Korean literature alongside the men, but women have had their own specific experiences due to their position in society. Korean literature is used as a source for investigating Korean woman’s experiences and perspectives. By means of feminist critique this article explores men-centered influences in Korean literature. The aim is to illustrate the importance of the issue of female visibility through Korean literature from a Korean woman’s perspective. From Korean literature positive and liberating possibilities for new ways of thinking and for contributing to building up the confidence and agency of Korean women, are indicated

WOMEN’S EXPERIENCE

Korean women’s experience

THE MYTH OF KOREAN ORIGIN

Feminist critique The explanation of the title “a thorny fish” is as follows

POSITIVE THINKING