Over 7 out of 10 young women feel gender discrimination in society

By Jun Ji-hye

Seventy-five percent of young women in Korea have suffered from gender discrimination and bias in their own families, at schools and workplaces, according to a survey on 6,570 men and women aged 19 to 34 conducted by the Korean Women's Development Institute in October and November last year, the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family said Thursday.

The survey showed there was a marked difference in perception regarding gender equality between young women and men, as only 18.6 percent of the men surveyed acknowledged inequality and bias against women.

For their part, 52 percent of men said they have experienced discrimination against them, while only 7.7 percent of women acknowledged that.

Fifty-five percent of the surveyed women said their parents felt daughters are obligated to help out with housework, while more than 80 percent of men said their teachers believed it was the duty of male students to carry heavy objects.

In the workplace, 51 percent of women said they were forced to bring coffee or tea for higher-ranking male employees, while 41 percent of men said they were forced to go on a long business trip instead of female employees.

There were more women who suffered sexual harassment at workplaces with 17.8 percent of women saying they had such experiences compared to 5.7 percent of men.

“I had an unpleasant experience when having dinner together with my colleagues and senior workers early last year when one of the male seniors asked me to pour him a drink,” a 32-year-old woman who works for a trading company in Seoul said. “At the time, it felt like my senior was treating like a bar maid.”

The survey also showed that 32.8 percent of young women felt suicidal at least once last year, while 19.4 percent of men felt such urges.

“Many women are still experiencing various forms of discrimination against them within their own families, schools and workplaces,” said Ma Kyung-hee who heads the policy research department at the Korean Women's Development Institute.

“Also, men are still being forced to play some roles based on gender stereotypes. This has caused great differences in perception regarding gender equality between women and men.”

Also, 23.9 percent of women said they do not want to get married, more than double the 11 percent of men who wished to remain single.

The most common reason for women being rejecting marriage was, “There is no particular need to marry.” For the men, the burden of caring for a family was the most cited reason.

In addition, 41.4 percent of women and 22.7 percent of men expressed lack of interest in having children.

“Based on the results of this survey, we will educate people on gender equality to resolve gaps in perception,” an official from the gender equality ministry said.