Gender politics and right-wing politics clash in South Korea
Source: Johnmenadue
South Korea’s gender divide has become a flashpoint in its democratic evolution. Amid economic stagnation and rising disillusionment, young men increasingly view feminist policies as threats to fairness, fuelling anti-feminist populism. Yet the roots of this divide run deeper — into the Confucian familism embedded in welfare structures, selective workplace norms, and a military culture that reinforces hegemonic masculinity. While women face structural inequalities, young men confront shifting expectations that clash with traditional roles.
For a generation nurtured on aspirations of prosperity and upward mobility, the stark realities of stagnant wages, soaring living costs and limited career prospects have engendered a profound sense of disillusionment among today’s South Korean youth.
This cohort has been labelled the ‘N-po generation’, a term denoting the relinquishment of numerous traditional life milestones. Initially coined as the three giving-up generation (sampo sedae) — referring to the abandonment of dating, marriage and childbearing — the idea has evolved to encompass additional sacrifices. These include home ownership, stable employment, personal relationships, health, physical appearance and even life aspirations.
Full article available here.
South Korea’s gender divide has become a flashpoint in its democratic evolution. Amid economic stagnation and rising disillusionment, young men increasingly view feminist policies as threats to fairness, fuelling anti-feminist populism. Yet the roots of this divide run deeper — into the Confucian familism embedded in welfare structures, selective workplace norms, and a military culture that reinforces hegemonic masculinity. While women face structural inequalities, young men confront shifting expectations that clash with traditional roles.
For a generation nurtured on aspirations of prosperity and upward mobility, the stark realities of stagnant wages, soaring living costs and limited career prospects have engendered a profound sense of disillusionment among today’s South Korean youth.
This cohort has been labelled the ‘N-po generation’, a term denoting the relinquishment of numerous traditional life milestones. Initially coined as the three giving-up generation (sampo sedae) — referring to the abandonment of dating, marriage and childbearing — the idea has evolved to encompass additional sacrifices. These include home ownership, stable employment, personal relationships, health, physical appearance and even life aspirations.
Full article available here.