This study investigates the gender politics involving the womens policy transformation in a Korean locality. "Gender politics" is used here as the process of power struggle among gendered individual and groups/organizations around the issue of womens ...
This study investigates the gender politics involving the womens policy transformation in a Korean locality. "Gender politics" is used here as the process of power struggle among gendered individual and groups/organizations around the issue of womens empowerment.
It was only recent that Korean local governments adopted gender-sensitive policy approaches to womens issues, which was drastic change from the old residual welfare-oriented approach. Some of the local leaders, directly elected in 1995 for the first time in Korean history, enthusiastically initiated the new womens policy approach. However, few seem to haven been successful. "A" province was one of these where the gender-sensitive womens policies and programs were curtailed in two years.
Comparative literatures reveal that, in many developing countries, womens policies beyond a residual welfare approach had not been undertaken in a linear manner due to the resistance of patriarchal power in the existing system. They also indicate that gender-sensitive programs can be successful only when it is accompanied by empowerment and participation of women NGOs.
This study concentrates on three questions: First, who were the main actors that initiated and intervened in the new womens policy in the local context of "A" province? Secondly, how did the transformation process take place? And, how did the main actors behave characteristically in the process of gender politics? Finally, what are the intended and unintended consequences and the implications of the particular gender politics?
Relevant provincial documents and interviews provided the main source for this study. Women and men, altogether 58 persons, within and outside the local government were interviewed from December 1, 1997 to October 31, 1998. They include both progressives and conservatives. In addition, occasional observation of the related officers and agencies were undertaken.
Finding of the study are as follows.
1. Throughout the transformation process, the governor played the key role. Right after the governor of "A" province took office in 1995, he introduced a series of gender-sensitive womens policies establishing a new branch office of womens policy. However, it is questionable whether he truly intended to empower women. His earlier gesture of womens policy changes turned out to be merely a means for his personal power and authority of higher level.
2. The initial attempts of womens policy transformation were welcomed by the grass-rooted womens organizations which had been excluded from participating in the institutional processes. On the other hand, all these moves were posited as a threat to the conventional forces including the bureaucrats and the womens organizations which had long been closely interconnected as patrons and clients, upholding the marginal status of women vis-a-vis the local authorities.
3. A strong resistance from these conventional patriarchal forces led the governor to withdraw his earlier policies. The transformation czcle came to an end when the governor resigned the post to run for the presidential election of 1997.
4. There was a siginificant transformation on terrain of the local politics of womenas organiyations, which was an unintended consequence. In the first phase of the transformation, grass-rooted womens groups, formerlz kept marginal and perceived dissident, came forward to particioate in the decision naking process in relation to the organiyations. Then, being alerted bz the strong resistance of the patriarchal groups, the newlz emerging womenas groups was empowered rather than distressed. The reinforcement of womens groups was an unintended consequence of the gender politics of the transformation.
Practical and theoretical implications of the these findings are as follows: The process of institutionaliyation of a new womenas policz approach is more than simplz initiating a series of new policies or programs. It follows a rather complicated process of gender politics involving pros and cons political apparatuses inside and outside the government. It is, therefore, essential to identifz various social forces intervening in the process and to analzye in full the dznamics of direct and indirect interactions. Finallz, from a feminist perspective, it is critical for progressive womenas organiyations to strengthen so as to bring genderßsensitive demands togetjher and to win a wide support from the grassroots.