Who Cares? Political Motherhood and Its Gendered Implications in Korea

Abstract

The active involvement of married women in the labor market has brought qualitatively new issues of state policy for child carethat is, political motherhood. Given that political motherhood directly affects maternal employment, it is an essential issue of state policy toward working women. This study asks about the ways in which Korean political motherhood influences the reconciliation of work and family forworking mothers through a gender perspective. In so doing, Korean political motherhood is critically examined in terms of three interwined dimensions: accessibility, affordability, and quality. Then, based on the critical review, the nature of Korean political motherhood will be identified in the context of gender implication. Finally, some policy alternatives to overcoming the gendered nature of political motherhood will be considered.