Marriage, Independence and Adulthood among Unmarried Women in South Korea

2016 ◽  
Vol 44 (3) ◽  
pp. 338-362 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bo-Hwa Kim ◽  
Jae Kyung Lee ◽  
Hyunjoon Park
Keyword(s):  
Socioeconomic Status ◽  
Human Capital ◽  
South Korea ◽  
Transition To Adulthood ◽  
Emotional Support ◽  
Economic Security ◽  
Large Context ◽  
Parental Intervention ◽  
High Chance ◽  
Residential Independence

Based on interviews with 23 unmarried women in Korea, we address how they subjectively perceive marriage and independence from parents in the large context of the transition to adulthood. We examine meanings, expectations and desires that unmarried women in their 20s and mid-30s attach to marriage and independence, particularly focusing on heterogeneity in those subjective concepts among unmarried women of different socioeconomic status (SES). Although low-SES women perceive the pathway to marriage to be primarily determined by their own decision because of the lack of economic and emotional support from their parents, their prospects of economic security through marriage are dimmed with their poor human capital and high chance to marry similarly low-SES men. This pattern of “precarious independence” among low-SES women is contrasted to active and extensive parental intervention and support that high-SES unmarried women expect in marriage process. To achieve residential independence and economic security through marriage, high-SES unmarried women are willing to “work together” with parents. We discuss implications of these different conceptions of marriage and independence in relation to adulthood among unmarried women in Korea.

Negotiating Masculinity across Borders

2016 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 317-344 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen Cho Suh
Keyword(s):  
Human Capital ◽  
South Korea ◽  
Return Migration ◽  
Hegemonic Masculinity ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Korean American ◽  
Return Migrants ◽  
A Site ◽  
Ethnic Return Migration ◽  
Over Time

Recent studies of ethnic return migration have explained why (economic, political, and affective) and where (Asia and Europe) this phenomenon has primarily occurred. Of the research available, however, few have examined the manner in which framings and practices of gender impact the experiences of those who participate in these transnational sojourns. This study fills this void by examining how Korean American male ethnic return migrants understand and negotiate their masculine identities, as they “return” to their ancestral homeland of South Korea. Utilizing data from in-depth qualitative interviews, this study finds that respondents initially configure South Korea as a site where they may redeem their marginalized masculine identities by taking advantage of the surplus human capital afforded to them by their American status. Over time, however, “returnees” come to realize the fluidity of masculinity and its ideals, exposing the tenuousness of their claims to hegemonic masculinity even in South Korea.

scholarly journals The Use of Human Capital and Limitations of Social Capital in Advancing Economic Security among Immigrant Women Living in Central Alberta, Canada

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (11) ◽  
pp. 220 ◽  
Author(s):  
Choon-Lee Chai ◽  
Kayla Ueland ◽  
Tabitha Phiri
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Human Capital ◽  
Labor Market ◽  
Immigrant Women ◽  
Economic Security ◽  
Economic Resources ◽  
Bonding Social Capital ◽  
Initial Stage ◽  
English Speaking ◽  
Alternative Resource

In this research, the challenges of using human capital and the effectiveness of social capital as an alternative resource used by immigrant women from non-English-speaking countries living in Central Alberta for them to attain economic security are studied. Evidence indicates heavy use of bonding social capital by immigrant women—primarily through family, ethnic, and religious networks—as a “survival” resource at the initial stage of settlement. The bonding social capital is relatively easy to access; nevertheless, in the case of visible minority immigrant women living in Central Alberta, bonding social capital has limited capacity in helping them to obtain economic security because their family and friends themselves often lack economic resources. As a result, these immigrant women are expected to compete in the labor market using their human capital to obtain higher-paying jobs. The challenge among immigrant women remains in seeking recognition of non-Canadian credentials, and/or successful acquisition and deployment of Canadian credentials in the primary labor market.

Link education to industrial upgrading: a comparison between South Korea and China

2015 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 163-179 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qiaoling He
Keyword(s):  
Human Capital ◽  
Economic Development ◽  
South Korea ◽  
Industrial Structure ◽  
Sufficient Conditions ◽  
Chinese Government ◽  
Education Development ◽  
Industrial Upgrading ◽  
Industrial Innovation ◽  
Content Type

Purpose – Why is the “education to industrial innovation” equation not working in China? Why has education development contributed to South Korea’s success but not promoted technology development and industrial upgrading in China? The purpose of this paper is to compare South Korea and China and try to address that puzzle. The author will also identify which mediating factors are crucial in linking education development to industrial innovation and industrial upgrading. Design/methodology/approach – This study will use the historical comparative method to compare South Korea and China. The author will try to explore the differences in education and industrial upgrading in the two countries, and identify which factors are producing different educational development effects, mainly by narrative comparison. Data will mainly come from online databases such as Statistics Korea, the Center on International Education Benchmarking, the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, China Education Statistics and the World Bank, as well as from second-hand resources. Findings – In summary, this research has revealed that education itself or the production of human capital may not be sufficient conditions for technology innovation or industry upgrading. For human capital to affect industrial upgrading positively, it is not enough for the Chinese government just to invest in education. Other intermediating market and social contexts are crucial too, especially the allocation of resources between the private and the public sectors, and the existence of a proper employment structure. Originality/value – The role of education in economic development for the developing world is debated a lot. However, there is little development study research which directly explores the relationship between education and industrial upgrading via macroeconomic analysis. In a globalized world, the situation of international industrial value chains is an important element for sustainable long-term development. Industrial structures and their transformation are becoming more and more important for developing countries. While most past research has treated the absorbing economy’s structure as a condition that determines education’s contribution to development, this paper will treat the industrial structure as the dependent variable, and analyze how education would contribute to the upgrading of industrial structure and, in turn, be of benefit to sustainable economic development.

scholarly journals Examining the Association between Socioeconomic Status and Exposure to Carcinogenic Emissions in Gyeonggi of South Korea: A Multi-Level Analysis

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 1777 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeong-Il Park ◽  
Hye-Seon Kwon
Keyword(s):  
Socioeconomic Status ◽  
South Korea ◽  
Negative Binomial ◽  
Toxic Chemicals ◽  
Foreign Born ◽  
Industrial Facilities ◽  
Industrial Land Use ◽  
Gyeonggi Province ◽  
Multi Level ◽  
Justice Studies

Although South Korea introduced the Pollutant Release and Transfer Register system in 1996, there is relatively limited evidence on how socioeconomic status at both individual and municipal levels is associated with exposure to toxic chemicals in Korea because of limited data sources. Using a multi-level negative binomial model, this study examined the socioeconomic status of both individuals and municipalities with a higher level of exposure to carcinogenic emissions from industrial facilities in Gyeonggi province, South Korea. The results reveal that economic minority individuals (national basic livelihood security recipients, unemployed people, and tenants), municipalities with higher percentages of industrial land use, and foreign-born populations had more facilities that produce carcinogenic emissions. While similar findings have been reported by many environmental justice studies conducted in other countries, this is the first Korean case study that reports the relationship between socioeconomic status at both individual and municipal levels and exposure to toxic chemicals.

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