This paper focuses on the reality where due to capitalism, individuals are evaluated by the types of occupation they hold and the amount of capital they possess. Because they conform to fixed standards and their personal or collective desires turn tow...
This paper focuses on the reality where due to capitalism, individuals are evaluated by the types of occupation they hold and the amount of capital they possess. Because they conform to fixed standards and their personal or collective desires turn towards material possession, it is difficult to free themselves from the central value of society and see themselves from a different perspective. Therefore, this study examines the way they turn away from the mainstream value to lead a different life and the significance such life gives to us. Of various alternative movements, this paper explores experiences of single women who chose to return to the farm for an alternative living. Its findings are as follows:
First, as they experience work different from their previous ones, they gain new awareness of their own work. As they realize how to enjoy their work, rather than feel painful about it, they can adjust the boundary of their ability to work.
Second, change take place about relationships. As they better know themselves and form natural relationships with others in the rural areas, their relationships gradually change because their decision to return to the farm and practice of such decision is a process of searching for what they really want to. They draw unnecessary attention because of their position as unmarried women who returned to the farm, but they cope with changes in their own way in their own place.
Third, they come to feel safe about a new environment. Because they are single, they feel unsafe at first. But as they come to know villagers and adjust themselves to the new environment, they get free from such concern about safety.
Fourth, change takes place about possession. As they realize more possession does not mean more happiness, they come to value even small things. They take a positive attitude toward uncertainties of the future by accepting them without fear. Though they cannot but face difficult situations in reality, they become content about small and simple things without seeing the difficulties from a negative viewpoint.
Those single women who returned to the farm are positive people who have thought over direction for their lives and have chosen changes without fear. For this reason, they make effort to take a positive view of changes in life in a new space. This paper explored the realistic possibility of alternative life through experiences of these women and found the value they hold significant in many ways: Such value will further expand the scope of feminism if connected with the feminist value.