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... e most important to their ancestors. Historically, family members often shared the same living quarters, but as a result of modernization that has also been transforming. In the book, The Handbook of Korea (1987), we discover that, there has been an increase in the number of nuclear families because newlyweds are now more likely to branch out on their own to their own apartments or flats. Along with Koreas recent industrialization, women have ascended in status. Traditionally, women were restricted to the home and activities associated with motherhood.
They were not allowed to attend any functions that were not concerned with family affairs and were considered of lower rank than their male counterparts (Handbook, 1978). Here and now, womens situations are changing. According to the book, Facts About Korea (1989), the education of women brought on tremendous transformations. Parents are beginning to realize that education for their daughters is just as meaningful as education for their sons. Also, women in the present are active in a wide variety of fields such as medicine, science and sports. These all attest to the fact that Korean women, given opportunities, can develop their potential and make significant contributions to society.
Unfortunately, women though are still at somewhat of a disadvantage. According to, June-see Yi (1996), the Chairwoman on the Committee for War Comfort Women, preference for sons [in Korea] is more deeply rooted and going serious as ever, compared to any other countries with similar Confucian background. She explains that, the recent widespread emergence of ultrasonography has made it possible to perform a sex test before the baby is born. Because of abortions done on female fetuses, the ratio of female to male babies born in 1994 set the world record at 115. 4: 100.
The reason that Koreans have such a tenacious aspiration for a son is because, As long as the headship of a Korean family is carried on by the paternal line, the absence of a son means the end of a family. Even though the circumstances for women are improving, Koreans still believe that, Raising daughters in this male-centered society is having your money invested with smaller chances for the future. We learn in the book, Korean Patterns (1967), that if a female is born into a family, she is of minimal significance and is the lowest in rank within her household. The reason a daughter is unimportant to her family is because when she gets married, she will leave her parents family and join her husbands clan. A son is responsible for taking care of his parents. A team of authors report that Korean families traditionally arranged the marriages of their children.
The family contemplated many things when arranging a marriage such as, lineage, social standing and wealth. Though arranged marriages are still commonplace, the new generation is beginning to consider romance when looking for a mate. Despite the new freedoms the children are given, the same factors considered in an arranged marriage still must be considered in a marriage that was not arranged (Choi & Keith, 1991). The reality of a man and wife in Korea after the wedding is much different than an American pair of newlyweds.
Sook-Hyun Choi and Patricia M. Keith (1991) describe that, A woman was married into the family of her husband, not to him as an individual. The authors portray a life in which a new wife must obey and serve her husbands parents and where her adjustment to them is more important than her adjustment to her own husband. It is interesting to look at how much Americans and Koreans differ in many of their cultural values, attitudes, traditions, and beliefs. Still, many aspects of life are quite similar. The traditional wedding ceremony, involved many small rituals, with many bows and symbolic gestures.
The participants were expected to control their emotions and remain somber (Traditional, 1999) However, the modern Korean wedding ceremony is similar to Western ceremonies. Much of the countrys heritage is reflected in their celebration of numerous holidays. With the influence of the West, however, ... most traditional holidays are just remembered rather than observed (Facts, 1989). The traditional holidays that the Koreans do honor are very special and are usually celebrated extremely extravagantly. It is determined from the book, Focus On Korea: Korean Arts and Culture (1988), that one of the largest holidays is New Year, or Sol.
On the first day of the lunar month, the whole family dresses in their finest clothes and observes ancestral rituals. After the ceremony, a feast of rice dumplings called ttokkuk and rice called to, is enjoyed. The second important holiday that is celebrated is Chuck or The Harvest Moon Day. On this day, the 15 th of the eight lunar month, most go to the gravesides of ancestors to pay respects then end with a feast of Songpyon, rice cakes filled with sweets or bean paste.
After much research with reference to Koreans and their way of life, one can appreciate their customs, values, traditions, and attitudes. Koreans set a good example for the rest of the world in terms of respect and loyalty within the family unit. Korea still has some issues to deal with in terms of their treatment of women and female children; however, they are making progress. The most important notion to remember when studying other countries is we should all celebrate our differences and try to learn things from the positive aspects of each others cultures. Bibliography: Works Cited Choi, S. & Keith, P. (1991). Are Worlds of Pain Cross cultural?
Korean Working Class Marriages. Journal of Comparative Family Studies, 293. Crane, P. S. (1967).
Korean Patterns. Seoul: Holly Corporation. Facts About Korea. (1989). Seoul, Korea: Korean Overseas Information Service. Focus on Korea: Korean Arts and Culture. (1988).
Seoul, Korea: Seoul International Publishing House. Hyun, J. (1979). Life-style. Introducing Korea, 98 - 101. Lew, S. (1988). Life in South Korea Today.
The Social Studies, 161 - 164. Pan-Asia American Book, Child Rearing Practices The Handbook of Korea. (1987). Seoul: Seoul International Publishing House. Traditional Marriage (1999). [ 1999, November 1 ].
Yi, J. (1996). Male Chauvinism and the Preference for Sons. http: //hotline. Percent. or. kr / gender 1.
htm> [ 1999, September 26 ].
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