Points of Views on Women in Enlightenment Discourse of the Equality of Sexes during the Enlightenment Period of Korea

This paper serves to analyze the points of views un women in enlightenment discourse of the equality of sexes during the enlightenment period of Korea (1860 1910). The discourses of newspapers that are the text of this study have been analyzed with qualitative research technique. The major conclusions that are derived from the study are as follows. First, enlightenment discourse of the equality of sexes criticized women’s inferior status in family and in society. Second, the discourse, however, claimed the women's rights with the view of national interests, which meant that the ultimate goal of the discourse was not the enhancement of women's rights. Women during the enlightenment period were recognized as a member of a nation while they should also role as a member of If. The discourse also claimed that the equality of sexes could be realized through education and emphasized especially women's role as a mother who should raise a member of a nation. Third, enlightenment discourse would not understand the women's every day lives that resulted in demanding women more roles in the name of civilization.

개화기 ‘남녀동등’담론에 나타난 여성에 대한 계몽의 시각