Page 50 - Issue 71

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VOL.1 , ISSUE 71OL.1 , ISSUE 71 ELITE

There are many causes that make this crisis

more complicated, but we will focus only on
the aspect which is related to individuals
who prefer their careers rather than creating
families and having children. These factors
hinder technical progress because of living
costs, in a manner that does not correspond
to the wages they receive, especially costs
related to children's education, as it is the
highest in the world. This prevents men
from creating families and makes women
doubtful about their desire to start families,
as it comes at the expense of their careers.
The decline in fertility rates can be justified
In this regard, there is a question, which is:
by feminism, and we can’t ignore its role in
“Does the individual have the right to
motivating women’s desire to maintain
prefer his/her personal liberty and private
their careers and to ensure that family
interest at the expense of the public interest
responsibilities and child care are shared
and social responsibility?"
equally between parents. However, this is
not the main reason for the decline, but it
To answer this question we should first
may be a motivating factor. There is
analysis the motivations which make
evidence that proves this ideology is not the
individuals prefer their careers rather than
primary cause, as the decline started before
their family lives. This will make us able to
the spread of this ideology in the early
determine if they have this right or no.
1980s during the rule of Chun Doo-hwan.
First, we notice that the South Korean
What has changed since then is that women
society gives many burdens for individuals,
have gained greater access to educational
which can make them reluctant to marry or
and career opportunities, which has shifted
have children. These burdens can be divided
their priorities from starting families to
according to the gender. Men are harmed
professional development. As a result,
by increasing living costs more than other
many women are postponing marriage and
burdens, as they are the main primary
childbirth, leading to smaller family sizes
breadwinner of the family, and because of
and a higher average age at marriage.
decreasing wages and not enough housing.
As for women, they suffer from gender
inequality, whether in the right to work in
general due to the influence of some
traditional Confucian values or in terms of
unequal wages. South Korean women earn
around two-thirds of what men make,
which explains why they cling to their jobs
and prefer work over family and childbirth.
The reason is their fear of losing their jobs
or being replaced

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