[Public Opinion Brief 34-1] Korea: Most Severe Discrimination Against Widows and Divorced Women

[Public Opinion Brief No. 34] Discrimination Against Divorced Women and Widows

[Topic 1] Comparative Perception of Discrimination Against Divorced Women and Widows Worldwide

[Topic 2] Women and Younger Demographics More Sensitive to Discrimination Against Widows and Divorced Women

Topic 1. Comparative Perception of Discrimination Against Divorced Women and Widows Worldwide

In 17 Countries, Four Out of Ten Perceive Discrimination Against Divorced Women and Widows

• In Korea, eight out of ten; ranked first globally

• Perception of social discrimination issues is high in Islamic countries

• Relatively better environment in Western developed countries, former Soviet Union countries, Indonesia, and Thailand

According to an international opinion poll jointly conducted by World Public Opinion (WPO), EAI, and The Kyunghyang Shinmun among 17,595 individuals in 17 countries, more than four out of ten respondents worldwide believe that divorced women or widows face discrimination compared to other women. Specifically, 46% of respondents in the 17 countries answered that divorced women face discrimination, and 43% responded that widows do.

By country, perception of severe discrimination against widows or divorced women is high in countries with strong Islamic influence, such as Korea, Turkey, Palestine, and Egypt, excluding Korea itself. The proportion of respondents who believe discrimination against divorced women exists is highest in Korea (82%), followed by Egypt (80%), Turkey (72%), Azerbaijan (54%), Palestine (53%), and Iran (51%).

Regarding discrimination against widows, the highest response rates were observed in Korea (81%), Turkey (70%), Palestine (61%), Nigeria (58%), and China (54%). Notably, Korea is evaluated as the country with the most severe prejudice and discrimination against widows and divorced women.

Meanwhile, in Western developed countries such as France, the United Kingdom, and the United States, former Soviet Union countries like Russia and Ukraine, and some Asian countries including Indonesia and Thailand, social discrimination against these women was not perceived as severe.

The perception that discrimination against divorced women is a problem was lowest in France at 17%, followed by the United States at 37% and the United Kingdom at 41%. For widows, only 17% of French respondents recognized it as an issue, compared to 44% in the UK and 47% in the US.

Furthermore, among former Soviet Union countries, the proportion of respondents who view social discrimination against divorced women as a problem was as low as 18% in Ukraine and 28% in Russia. Regarding widows, only 22% in Ukraine and 27% in Russia answered that they face discrimination compared to other women.

In Asia, Indonesia and Thailand showed relatively better social treatment of widowed women. The percentage of respondents who considered discrimination against divorced women a problem was relatively low in Thailand (28%) and Indonesia (32%) compared to other Asian countries like Korea (82%), China (46%), and India (46%). In the case of widows, Indonesia (20%) and Thailand (29%) were perceived as having a better environment compared to Korea (81%), China (54%), and India (42%).

[Figure 1] Perception of Social Discrimination Against Divorced Women and Widows

Very serious problem + Somewhat of a problem (%)