• The International Journal of Costume Culture
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.173-183
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• 2002

The main focus of this study is to understand realities of postmodern consumer culture by deconstructing fashion advertisements, Calvin Klein's ck One and cK be. The metaphysics of critical theory, visual and textual analysis are used to deconstructing the ads applying one of the postmodern cultural critics, Baudrillard' s notion of hyperreality. Through deconstructing the ads five postmodern characteristics representing hyperreality were found. First, there is no message regarding functional characteristics of the product offered in the ad, which is far from the modernist's utilitarian Point of view. Hyperreality in Postmodern consumer culture is consumption centered and focuses on the product's symbolic meanings. Second, especially for cK be, the ad uses atypicai, irrelevant models and images, which are introduced as a concept of ‘real people’ rather than the ideal person or body type. Third, there are transformations of the meanings from cK one to cK be such as the notions of globalization and gender which clearly represent ongoing reality in the Postmodern culture. Fourth, there are hidden meaning of hedonism and relativism, which are prevalent in postmodern ideology. Finally, models' bodies are used to convey messages as well as form the ground and figure in the ad that is a significant characteristic of postmodern consumer culture. In conclusion, the study of Calvin Klein's fashion ads supports the notion that advertising mirrors reality in postmodern consumer culture, which is hyperreality.

• Journal of Families and Better Life
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.41-61
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• 2014

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether differentiation of self mediates the relationship between parenting styles (i.e., care and overprotection) and the level of career decision-making among young adults. We separately measured the mother's and the father's parenting styles and five dimensions of differentiation of self that S. Je (1989) suggested. The data came from 387 young adults who were juniors and seniors at universities in Seoul and its surrounding cities. Using Baron and Kenny's (1986) steps based on regression, we found that the relationships between both caring and overprotective parenting styles and young adults' level of career decision-making were mediated by four dimensions of differentiation of self (i.e., intellectual functioning vs. emotional functioning, family projection process, emotional cutoff, and family regression) except for integration of self. The results were consistent for both the mother and the father. Bootstrapping tests showed that all of the mediation effects were statistically significant. This study contributes to the literature by showing that young adults' level of career decision-making is not simply determined by inputs such as parenting styles but is also mediated by differentiation of self. The results of this study are meaningful in that both the mother's and the father's parenting styles could make a difference in young adults' level of career decision-making through differentiation of self.

• Journal of Family Relations
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.123-141
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• 2016

Objective: This study examined correlates of residential proximity between parents and non-coresident married children. A majority of existing studies on intergenerational living arrangement has focused on exploring factors that are associated with intergenerational coresidence only, despite an increasing number of parents and children who do not live together but close by. Because residential proximity facilitates frequent contacts and support exchanges between the two generations, it is important to understand its correlates. Method: The data were drawn from first wave of the Korean Longitudinal Study of Ageing (KLoSA, 2006), a nationally representative sample of adults 45 years or older and their spouses. The analytic sample consisted of 3,950 parents with 10,946 non-coresident married children. Both regression with robust standard errors and sibling fixed effects regression models were estimated using the reg and xtreg procedures in STATA. Results: Younger, less depressed, and more physically impaired parents lived closer to at least one of their married children (within a 30-minute distance by public transportation). Fathers (compared to mothers), parents living in cities (compared to those living in rural areas), parents with at least one co-resident child or fewer numbers of married children tended to have at least one married child living nearby. With regard to child characteristics, married children who were less educated, homeowners, and had more children lived closer to their parents. Also, sons (compared to daughters) lived in closer distance to their parents. Conclusion: Overall, findings suggest that intergenerational residential proximity may primarily be motivated by the childcare needs of married children or parents' needs for assistance with functional impairment. Also, the traditional patrilineal norms of intergenerational support may still be a critical factor in residential decisions as observed in the difference between married sons and daughters in proximity to their parents.

• Journal of Family Relations
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.73-93
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• 2016

Objective: The purpose of the present study was to examine how children's transition to adulthood might be related to their parents' marital satisfaction and relationship satisfaction with children. Specifically, we investigated if the numbers of children who (1) graduated from 4-year college, (2) were employed, (3) were married, (4) moved out of parental homes and lived independently, and (5) had at least one child might be associated with better marital satisfaction and higher relationship satisfaction with children among midlife and older parents. We also evaluated if the associations might differ by gender of the children (sons vs. daughters) as well as by their gender and birth order (first-born son, later-born son, first-born daughter, later-born daughter). Method: The analytic sample was drawn from the 2006 Korean Longitudinal Study of Ageing. The sample consisted of 1,905 parents whose children were aged between 25 and 35. For analysis, regression models with robust standard errors were estimated using Stata. Results: Results suggest that sons' (especially first-born sons') transition to adulthood exerted more consistent impacts on parents. More specifically, first-born sons' completion of higher education, marriage, and independent living arrangement were associated with either higher levels of parental marital satisfaction or relationship satisfaction with children. With regard to later-born sons, their completion of college education was linked to higher levels of parental marital satisfaction and relationship satisfaction with children. Conclusion: Korean parents appear to place greater importance on first-born sons' successful transition to adulthood compared to those of other children. Overall, however, transition to adulthood may have limited influence on Korean parents.

• Journal of Family Relations
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.111-131
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• 2018

Objectives: This study examined the effects of residential proximity to adult children on the mental and physical health of middle-aged and older parents. The study also evaluated whether the parental age and gender of the adult child in closest proximity to the parent might moderate the association. Method: Data were drawn from five waves of the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging(2006-2014). The analytic sample consisted of 7,359 parents aged 45 or older who had at least one non-coresidential adult child aged 19 or older. The analyses were conducted by estimating a series of fixed effects models while adjusting for the nested structure of the data. Results: The results showed that first, a closer distance between an adult child and the parent was generally associated with the parent experiencing a decrease in depressive symptoms. Yet, the mental health benefit was smaller for parents aged 65 years or older whose closest living adult child was a son. Second, a closer distance was observed to affect chronic illness only among middle-aged parents (aged 45 to 64). When the closest living adult child was a daughter, the middle-aged parent experienced deterioration in their chronic illness. On the other hand, the opposite pattern was observed when the closest living adult child was a son. Conclusions: The parental age and gender of the adult child in closest proximity to the parent might have varying effects on parents' health. A closer distance between an adult child and their parent has a positive impact on the mental health of the parent as a whole, whereas the effect of living closer was mixed in relation to the parental physical health.

• Journal of Family Relations
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.119-145
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• 2017

Objectives: Grounded in a life-course perspective, this study examined the effects of non-coresident children's transitions to marriage and parenthood on the frequency of contact with their parents. Gender of adult children and the educational levels of both adult children and their parents were evaluated as potential moderators of the transition-contact linkages. Method: The analytic sample consisted of adult children aged between 20 and 50 whose parents participated in four waves of the Korean Longitudinal Study of Ageing (2006, 2008, 2010, 2012). For analysis, fixed effects regression models were estimated using the xtreg procedure in Stata. Results: First, transition to marriage was associated with a decrease in face-to-face contact, whereas a greater increase in contact with parents via phone, mail, email etc. occurred only among newly married with less than college education compared to the newlywed with college degrees. Second, transition to parenthood was associated with an increase in contact via phone, mail, email etc. In addition, a greater increase in face-to-face contact was found with parents who completed high school or more education compared to those with less than high school education. Conclusions: The findings suggest that adult children's transitions to marriage and parenthood may bring about increases in contact with their parents, particularly for adult children with less than college education and parents with more than high school education.

• Journal of Families and Better Life
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.77-97
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• 2009

This study evaluates the poverty experiences of low-income single mothers according to the Capability Approach of Amartya Sen. In this approach, the capability to achieve the basic functionings of life, not income itself, is the criterion of poverty. 26 single mothers were interviewed using focus-group interviews and in-depth interviews. 21 functionings on the existence level, 18 on the relatedness level, and 15 on the growth level were found in the areas of work, health, food consumption, clothing, housing, child rearing, and leisure. The results of this study suggest that low-income single mothers can achieve only some of the existence level functionings with significant help from welfare services. They can scarcely achieve higher level functionings in any of these areas.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.783-793
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• 2007

The purpose of this research was to investigate consumers' awareness and perception of the noble family food to popularize it. A total of 1,100 subjects lived in Seoul area participated in Web-based survey. Thirty eight percents of the participants were not even aware that there exists the noble family food and overall 63% of the participants merely have the idea of what the noble family food is. The impressions of the noble family food varied widely. Some of them were positive as the noble family food seems good for health and some were negative as it is not easy to cook. The results showed that many people are not interested in noble family food, however, there was a high behavioral intention to have it in their future meal plan. Participants responded that noble family food had not fully developed yet (mean=4.08), but it had potential to be world-wide excellent (mean=3.95). There was significantly high scored response that the noble family food should contain sanitary cooking process to popularize it (mean=4.16). Also participants addressed that it was necessary to use public relations through mass media (mean=4.02), and it required appropriate educational approach to the noble family food (mean=4.02). In addition, people perceived that traditional custom and the noble family foods were jointly connected by cultural events. On the other hand, there were low scored responses on developing of noble family food as a processed food to be generally accessible in daily life. In conclusion, the importance of public relations should be emphasized to popularize the noble family food. Also, increasing the number of places that sell noble family food would help to popularize it.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.327-348
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• 2019

Among the many methods to make sustainable garments, convertible garments have the potential to change style and function that allow consumers to keep and use garments longer with the possibility of enhancing sustainability. This research analyzes consumer preferences in changeable design options for convertible dresses and the consumers' influence on environmentally responsible apparel consumption (ERC) behaviors on their preferences regarding changeable design options of dresses, which are popular items. An online survey collected data from a convenient sample of 321 female college students from four universities in the United States. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS through descriptive analysis, cluster analysis, and independent samples t-test. There were significant differences between high and low ERC groups in design preferences that considered important aspects of purchasing, using convertible dresses, and purchase intentions. Detailed differences among sub-groups were analyzed. Designers are encouraged to make tying/folding/wrapping dresses with changes of size/fit, dress length, or color/pattern. The results are beneficial for apparel designers when developing convertible dresses with the guidance of consumers' design preferences and differences according to ERC levels.

• Journal of Korean Home Economics Education Association
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• v.18 no.4 s.42
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• pp.193-206
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• 2006

The national level curriculum revision is underway in Korea. A proposed model of family and consumer sciences curriculum was proposed for a public hearing, which was held in December 15, 2005. In the model curriculum, practical problem focused curriculum development approach is partially adopted. However, there is lack of understanding for the practical problem focused curriculum, therefore correct understanding of it is needed. This study tried to promote understanding of the nature of perennial practical problem that FCS deals with and of a conceptual framework of practical problem focused curriculum development. Seven competing topics related with practical problem focused curriculum are discussed for resolving misunderstandings and prejudice on it. From the discussion, it is concluded that practical problem focused curriculum is meeting the needs of students' present and future individual and family life.