Korean Women`s Social Advancement and Changes in Their Time-Use Patterns

Abstract

One of the most notable features of Korea's rapid economic growth and social change during the past three decades is an impressive progress and social advancement of women. Women in Korea, a traditional Confucian patriarchal society, had basically been confmed to homes with little employment opportunities as late as the 1970s. A few women who were fortunate enough to find jobs also had to give up their jobs on their marriages. But presently women in Korea comprise more than 41% of the nation's work force, and their contribution to society is highly recognized. Women's social participation in politics and other cultural and social affairs as well as in economic activities have vastly increased in a relatively short period of time. Their importance and influences are felt throughout the society. Female government ministers and members of National Assembly (Parliament) are numerous these days, let alone many CEOs and top executives in the industries. During the past two decades, many discriminatory laws and social practices against women have been abolished or revised, and important laws for women's rights have newly been enacted including "the Equal Employment Act," "the Anti-Sexual Harassment Act," and the like. This, of course, owed much to a heightened social recognition of women's rights and the gender rnainstreaming movements throughout the world since the 1970s.