By Jon Dunbar
Maija Rhee Devine, an author and Korea Times columnist, will lecture for the Royal Asiatic Society Korea Branch next Tuesday on how the Chinese zodiac affects women.
As the Year of the Yellow Dog approaches, Rhee looks at how zodiac traditions and myths exert power over people and create various social phenomena.
She points to the dramatically fluctuating birthrate, as “inauspicious” years see an increase of abortions of female fetuses, such as the horse years of 1978 and 1990. Women born in those years are said to be independent, high-energy and impatient, traits traditionally undesirable in women.
Rhee says the Year of the Dog, Feb. 16 to Feb. 4, 2019, seems favorable to female births.
“But birth year alone may not cut it. The birth hour is considered to be the key determinant. If expectant parents take zodiac signs seriously, they must accurately predict the month, day, even the hour of their girl babies' arrival,” Rhee cautioned.
“Such complicated beliefs may cause one's eyes to roll.”
The lecture will be held at 7:30 p.m. on Jan. 23 in the second-floor lounge of Somerset Palace in downtown Seoul. All are welcome. Non-members pay 10,000 won and students pay 5,000 won. Visit raskb.com or maijarheedevine.com for more information.