Session 4 - August 6, Jennifer Jung-Kim, UCLA

[Nira Sun]

China produced a documentary called "Twenty two" which looked at the lives of comfort women survivors. 22 meant that there were only 22 comfort women still alive at the time of the filimg. I'm not sure if it's appropriate to be introduced in classrooms. 

This documentary is available on Netflix if anyone is interested. 

[Joel Jimenez]

I found 2 most interesting topics during this lecutre.  the first one are the anti-discriminatory laws of 1999 in South Korea as well as other progressive movements for women's rights in the last 30 years.  It is a direct result of the U.S. - Korean relations post Korean War.  Also a cause of more progressive laws on gender equality is due to high quality education throughout the entire country.

The second topic that I found really interesting was Korean Beauty and how beauty is seen in Korea.  Korea has become the plastic surgery capital in the world, also known as the new Silicon Valley.  Not only is it big in Korea, but here in the U.S. and globally.  International companies like Sephora and Planet Beauty now have sections on Korean beauty products.  Korean Pop and Korean Drama actors/actresses/influencers and athletes are also being used to market such beauty products.  Over $2 billion dollars in Korean beauty products was generated.

[Celeste Modster]

I appreciate Professor Jennifer Jung Kin’s expounding on the definition of gender beyond sexual orientation. She outlined the importance of including the exploration of social constructs, femininity and masculinity and social and power relationships associated with gender. As I prepare my student lesson to discuss gender issues within the cultures represented in our school population, I look forward to introducing my students to evolving concepts of Gender in South Korea as a spring board. I’d also like to delve into discussions of Women and Confucianism and traditional perceptions of gender roles.

[Kimberly de Berzunza]

I also was surprised by this and found it the most applicable part of this session to what I actually teach, though I found everything fascinating. There is a lot of interest in Korea but I have very little knowledge about it. Teaching 7th grade I am now supposed to include history of Korea from roughly 500-1500, as part of a unit that also includes China and Japan. This gives me a way to connect how those cultures influenced Korea's culture (to its detriment, in my opinion) but first teaching what Korea was like earlier on and showing the contrast.  I need to do more research on the 3 queens of the Silla era.

[Donna Jamshidnejad]

In 10th grade World History, my students write a Document Based Essay on women’s roles in the Industrial Revolution. I frame the assignment as an academic controversy, and provide primary sources for students to analyze and use in their essays. Today I learned about women’s roles in factories in South Korea and there were many parallels with factory life in Industrial Europe and the United States. I’d like to find primary sources on factory life in 1970s Korea and add them to this essay.

[David Ojeda]

I agree, Joy. It seems the parents want the child to embody current standards: Western beauty standards. It's interesting how this is also seen in other cultures, like mine (Mexican). In T.V. novelas (Spanish soap operas), protagonists tend to have these physical traits. In school and at work, girls/yound ladies who have these features are popular and coveted. Unfortunately, it is instilled in a child that these features are desirable, which results with some children going to extreme lenghts to please their parents and society. These standards seem to be perpetuated on magazine covers, ads, posters, films, and so forth. I definitely believe we need diversity and our society seems somewhat aware of the problem at hand and seems ready to address it...Yet, I'm unsure what specific steps it needs to take to move forward.

[Jennifer Chang]

Wow, Midori! Thank you for sharing that link! I do remember that lawsuit from a while back, and did not know that it had been an internet hoax. How unfortunate that the model and children has had to suffer because of this. This also shows the power of social media and internet, and negative effect it can have on people's careers. 

[Jennifer Chang]

Hi Joy, 

Thanks for sharing your student's story. It made me upset to hear that the parents continued to pressure the child, but after reading your explanation, it also makes sense why they would do so. They really do believe that by getting cosmetic surgery their child will be successful in the future - wanting what is best for their children. I also thought it interesting that they yearned for society's approval of not only their child, but also of themselves (having enough wealth) - caring very much about what others think about them.

[Petrina Jap]

I was intrigued to learn that class was more important than gender in determining individual status in Pre-17th Century Korea. I have only studied, read texts, or really talked about Post-17th Century Korea, and was surprised that Korean women were once able to actively gain agency and power in society.

Today’s lecture reminded me of Min Jin Lee’s “Pachinko,” a novel that follows a Korean’s family migration to Japan. Several generations are birthed throughout the course of this novel, and all members of the family interact with racial tension, albeit in different ways. It is sobering to realize how pain and shame — and their effects, as well — are so easily passed on from generation to generation. As someone mentioned today, it is important to discuss hard topics such as these. 

Considering that gendered contradictions are becoming more apparent and talked about in society, I am curious to see how considerations of gender will continue to evolve in South Korea. 

 

[Jennifer Chang]

Learning about the "Escape the Corset" movement was really inspiring. I really enjoyed reading that there were young artists that were challenging the norms and pressures of beauty standards in South Korea, and I hope that they continue to gain more voice and support in the future. With the Kbeauty products and image of Kpop girl and boy bands gaining so much popularity not just in Korea, but also globally, I wonder what the trend will look like 10 years? Will their movement grow? Get more pushback? The US has also had a movement of being inclusive of all types of bodies and shapes in many beauty advertisements. I wonder if we will see the same trend in South Korea. 

I also thought it was interesting that Jeon mentioned the mixed results of her movement. She is now treated equally and has access to information that she wouldn't have gotten before. However, she is conflicted as it seems like she is not seen as a woman, but rather just one of the guys. 

[Petrina Jap]

Diana,

I also wondered about the link between cosmetic surgery and filial piety. All of the people I know who have returned to Asia for cosmetic surgery have done so out of their own desires; though some of their parents/family members have initiated the discussion and encouraged them to getting their eyes/nose/chin done,  the decision was ultimately theirs. After reading that article, I talked to two friends in Asia, and asked why they chose to have surgery — one’s response was that “it’s just what everyone does” and she didn’t want to be “the ugly one”; the other also mentioned that it’s expected, and that companies hire better looking people. 

I wonder if the filial piety shown through people’s “successes” and their ability to bring pride to their parents, whether that’s through being accepted by society or landing a job.

 

[Jennifer Chang]

Hi Celeste, 

I also appreciated our discussions on the definition of gender, and think that this is a great introductory exercise and discussion to use with our students. I would also like to include more discussions of Women and Confucianism, as I see this similar theme occuring in the past three seminars so far. 

[Deanna Wiist]

Having just returned from the very powerful One-Child Nation and pondering the days content, I have so many thoughts running through my head. Maybe I’ll be more profound in the morning. I guess what I’m thinking about right now is how much I learned about South Korea today. So much of what Professor Jung-Kim talked about would be of interests to my students. For the first time this year, I had numerous kids requesting extra time on North and South Korea. I’m sure K-Pop had something to do with it. I was the faculty sponsor of a homegrown K-Pop Dance Club after school. I really appreciated that she took us through history, but also shared some very accessible readings that could easily be transferred to the classroom. I love that the youth in South Korea seem to be challenging norms. 

 

[Madeline George]

Korea seems so progressive ..... they educated their girls, they gave them equal inheritance rights... and then the warring aggressive society takes over and it all goes away.   The long term societal shift makes me question the long term impact of our administration and its attitudes.   

Korea seems to be “just like us” in their children are challenging their gender norms... and maybe more open in that they have the androgynous boy bands that are ever so popular.  Yet... all the plastic surgery. They are obviously image and beauty motivated.  It seems like a paradox.... I don’t know. 

 

 

 

[Madeline George]

Those of you who did not attend the showing, REALLY missed out!  It was a riveting journey as the filmmaker, Nanfu Wang,  asked her family and village how the one child policy impacted them... She discovers that the repercussions  of the policy have hit her home..... more than once.   I was unaware that th  Hines government was basically sanctioning the kidnappy and selling of the second or unwanted children. I was unaware that women were forced to have “ abortions”as late as 8 to nine months into a pregnancy.  The government had successfully convinced the nation and those who suffered the atrocities of this horrible policy, that while it was tragic, it had to happen.  One woman stating that the nation would have had to resort to cannibalism if the one child policy had not been enacted.  The midwife who said she killed 20,000 - 30,000 babies in the name of the one child policy appears to be the only repentant perpetrator of the policy seeking redemption.  She helps people with fertility issues.  All the other enforcers, seemed to range in attitude from “ it’s what we were told to do,” to “ it had to be done for the good of the nation.”

The family that took the unwanted babies to the orphanages to keep them from dying and received  money were sent to jail for human trafficking. Yet, the government officials did the same thing after ripping the babies from families who wanted to keep them.   The orphanages sold these children to adoptive parents from around the world. It turns out that all these babies were not left by the side of the road.   These babies are the nation’s cash cow.      

 

The ultimate irony is that the government that spent 35 years convincing its people that they must only have 1 child to save the country is now putting the same effort into now convincing the nation to drink the two child kool aid.  

I marvel at the tenacity and courage of Nanfu in returning to China, not just once, but at least twice to make this film.  And apparently taking her infant son along with her. I guess it is appropriate as her son is what made Nanfu decide to investigate the one child policy and document it’s effects.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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