[Public Opinion Briefing 21-2] Reasons for the Weakness of Gender Issues in Korea

[Public Opinion Briefing 21] "International Comparison of Perceptions of Women's Rights"

[Topic 1] Comparison of Perceptions of Gender Equality in 16 Countries

[Topic 2] Reasons for the Weakness of the Gender Agenda in Korea

Topic 2. Reasons for the Weakness of the Gender Agenda in Korea Is it because of the "male, elderly, and low-education" groups who oppose gender equality?

To what extent are women speaking with one voice on gender equality?

□ Perception of the importance of gender equality issues is lower compared to racial discrimination issues

Although there was some backlash from feminist groups during the government reorganization process following the launch of the new administration, the fact that it could be reduced to a mini-ministry without significant public resistance demonstrates that the perception of gender equality is not a major political agenda in Korea.

The lack of prominence of the gender agenda of gender equality in Korea is easily confirmed by comparing public opinion on other human rights issues. As many as 71% responded that equal treatment, regardless of race/ethnicity, is very important. 23% responded that it is somewhat important. In contrast, for gender equality issues, the proportion who responded that it is very important was 43%, and the proportion who responded that it is somewhat important was 43%, indicating a relatively weaker sense of urgency. [Figure 1]

□ Error in conventional assumptions: The hypothesis that men, the elderly, and the less educated are insensitive to gender equality is incorrect

It is common to attribute the lack of prominence of the gender agenda in Korea to the three major groups that oppose women's rights: men, the elderly, and the less educated. That is, it is assumed that men, the elderly steeped in patriarchal culture, and the less educated who have not received sufficient human rights education would be resistant to gender equality. The survey results confirm the stereotype about gender differences, as the proportion of men who responded that gender equality issues are very important was 36%, while for women it was 50%, showing a clear difference. However, the existing perception that the elderly and the less educated are groups that oppose gender equality was found to be unfounded. By education level, the low-education group (middle school or less) had the highest proportion of respondents (49%) who perceive gender equality issues as serious, while the proportion for university graduates or higher was 43%. By generation, the youngest group, those in their 20s, responded that gender equality issues are very important at only 38%, showing the least sensitivity. The 40s had the highest proportion at 49%, and respondents in their 50s and older also showed a high proportion at 43%. [Figure 2]

[Figure 1] Perception of the Importance of Gender Equality and Racial/Ethnic Equality Issues (%)

[Figure 2] Proportion of Respondents who Consider Gender Equality a "Very Important Issue" by Gender, Education Level, and Age Group (%)

□ Women's perceptions of gender equality vary by generation. There are significant differences in perceptions among women themselves.

Only 50% of women perceive gender equality as a "very important issue" (37% of men).

There is a perception gap among women by education level: 57% of women with a middle school education or less, 50% of women with a university degree or higher, and 46% of women with a high school education.

There is a significant perception gap between women in their 40s (59%) and women in their 50s and older (40%) by generation.

Women in their 20s and 30s fall in the middle range with 48-49%.

The survey results indicate that, in addition to the differences in perception between men and women, there are also considerable differences in perception among men themselves and among women themselves.

Among men, the existing pattern is confirmed where higher education (38% for university graduates or higher) leads to a greater perception of the importance of gender equality compared to the lower education group (25% for middle school or less). The situation is different for women. In fact, the proportion of women with a middle school education or less who perceive gender equality issues as important (57%) is higher than that of women with a university degree (50%) or a high school education (46%). The difference in perception among women, particularly between those with a middle school education or less and those with a high school education or higher, may be a phenomenon resulting from the fact that the expanding economic opportunities for women in recent times are primarily limited to those with a high school education or higher. Among men, there is a difference in the perceived importance of gender equality between the youngest group (20s) and older generations (30s and above). Specifically, only 28% of those in their 20s responded sensitively to gender equality issues, while the proportion for those in their 30s and above was similar at 37-39%. Among women, the pattern is not as simple as in the past, where younger women held egalitarian views and older women accepted patriarchal norms. Within women, the perception gap between those in their 40s and older generations (50s and above) is nearly 20%, which is larger than the generational conflict between younger and older women. While 57% of women in their 40s perceive gender equality issues as very important, this figure remains around 40% for women in their 50s and older, similar to men in their 30s and older. The reason why women in their 40s are most sensitive to women's issues appears to be closely related to the social and environmental context they experienced. In the 1970s and 1980s, when they reached adulthood, gender equality principles had already spread, and unlike previous generations, a considerable number of women had the opportunity for higher education, yet discrimination against women in terms of employment opportunities and economic compensation remained severe. This can be seen as a generational characteristic reflecting a greater sense of urgency regarding gender equality issues. [Figure 3].[Figure 4].

Among men, a temperature difference is observed in the sense of the importance of gender equality between the younger generation in their 20s and those aged 30 and above. Specifically, only 28% of respondents in their 20s reacted sensitively to gender equality issues, while the rate was similar, around 37-39%, for those aged 30 and above. Among women, the pattern is not as simple as in the past, where younger women held egalitarian views and older women accepted patriarchal order. Within the female population, the perception gap between women in their 40s and those aged 50 and above, nearing 20%, is wider than the generational conflict between younger and older women. While 57% of women in their 40s perceive gender equality as a very important issue, this figure drops to around 40% for women aged 50 and above, similar to men in their 30s and older. The reason why women in their 40s are most sensitive to women's issues appears to be closely related to the social and environmental context they experienced. In the 1970s-1980s, when they reached adulthood, gender equality concepts had already spread, and unlike previous generations, a significant number of women had the opportunity for higher education. However, discrimination against women remained severe in terms of employment opportunities and economic compensation. This can be seen as a result of generational characteristics that made them more keenly aware of the importance of gender equality issues [Figure 3].[Figure 4].

□ Urgent need for sophisticated measures tailored to specific subgroups and strata within gender groups

These results show a complex reality where perspectives on gender equality vary depending on the social class or group affiliation within men and women. This underscores the need not only for efforts to reduce the perception gap between men and women but also for more detailed problem diagnosis and customized solutions to converge perceptions among subgroups within men and within women. It is crucial to emphasize that the perspectives of the government, feminist organizations, and society at large on gender equality issues must become more sophisticated.

[Figure 3] Perception of the Importance of Gender Equality by Gender and Education Level (Very Important) (%)

[Figure 4] Perception of the Importance of Gender Equality by Gender and Age Group (Very Important) (%)