Women, Honour and Korean Patriarchy

In Gyeongju, we had several healthy and delicious vegetarian meals. In our meals together, our guide, Mr. Truman Kim, told us about Korean culture, history and beliefs. In Korea even numbers are considered feminine and odd numbers masculine. According to Mr. Kim because we are living now in an even numbered century—century of women—in which more and more women are getting into high ranking positions in politics and leadership.

At one time, Mr. Kim told us about the Silla dynasty and honour. According to Mr. Kim, during the Silla Dynasty women carried daggers close to their chest in case of an attack by a man from invading forces. I thought that it was meant for self-defence but Mr. Kim clarified that it was for the women to maintain their honour by committing suicide if they were raped. This led us to a long discussion about the whole concept of honour, shame and equality between men and women. There emerged the cultural differences between traditional Korean thinking and Western way of life. Even though I got the impression that things are coming closer to a western way of thinking in Korea the so called traditional divide between men and women is still there. Women are considered to be the experts on domestic life and men in charge of life outside the home. Korea seems still very patriarchal: women are expected first and foremost to be wives and mothers who take care of the home while men go out to the world to earn a living for the family.

Commentary by Maija Rautemaa