근대 여성의 등장과 의식의 추이

Abstract

In the Korean society where traditional Confucianism was prevalent it was important for women not to stand themselves out in the boundary of family. However, Western culture and ideas entering the country at the beginning of the modern times was a driving force behind social changes, among which the biggest one was the growth of women’s consciousness. Women gained freedom and equality through Western ideas and received education to actively develop them. Education played a greater role in allowing women to take part in the male dominant society. As a result, a so-called “Modern women” were born. They made efforts to gain the recognition of their presence in the traditional society and grew their strength. Accordingly “New women” emerged as a new fad in 1920’s and 30’s. However, in many aspects, it is hard to tell whether modern women grew with self-awareness. This is because they led their lives, estranging themselves from history before the advent of the modern times. Therefore they needed assistance from men who played a pivotal role in history and the modern men were willing to do so at that time. Via newspaper articles or editorials, they addressed the need for female education and helped the establishment of women’s organizations. Nevertheless, the fact that men led all those efforts only limited women’s development. Since those reform-minded males with modernity still believed the role of female should be performed within the boundary of family, they recognized limited changes. What they wanted was not female counterpart but a good housewife with modernity. In this reason, without overcoming this limit, there was no real growth for women. Despite those limits, women started trying to grow on their own in order to overcome them presented by the surroundings and as a part of the efforts, actively pursued to lay the ideological foundation through education and participate in society. Likewise I believe women who demonstrated those efforts in the setting of the modern times, are a role model for today’s women. Thus, I am to make it clear that looking into the growth of modern women is historically important for women.