The role and status of women in economic development: The case of the Republic of Korea

Keumsoon Lee Yoon, Purdue University

Abstract

In this study, I have examined some important questions on women in economic development: How have women been incorporated into the process of economic development? What has been the impact of industrialization on women's status? The process of economic development has been investigated within the context of industrialization and internationalized capitalism. Women's equal status, adopting a feminist definition of power, is defined as to have equal access to, participation, and benefit from the political, social, and economic arrangement of society. This study focuses on women's economic status, which is measured by female labor participation rate, occupational segregation, wage differentials and working conditions. The Republic of Korea was chosen as a case study, since it is appropriate for an examination of the effect of industrialization on women. The Korean case has revealed that with industrialization women's labor has been utilized, particularly for labor-intensive export industry. But it has not led to women's equality. Occupational segregation still exists as shown by, female underrepresentation in sales, service, and agriculture, and underrepresentation in the administrative group. Also a large proportion of women workers are assigned to low-paying jobs. On the average, female workers received only 53.5% of male wages in 1990, which is the lowest compared with other developed countries. The state in Korea has not taken any serious measures to eradicate economic inequality between the sexes. Since the autonomous state has played a very important role in the Korean economy, it might introduce policies to promote women's employment by regulating discriminatory practices. Women's economic independence, which could be achieved through women's participation in the labor market, is the key to women's equality in the long run.

Degree

Ph.D.

Advisors

Carroll, Purdue University.

Subject Area

Political science|Womens studies|Social structure

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