BLOG POSTS
Opinion pieces and critical articles from Human Asia and EAYAN Program participants.
‘Gender’ to ‘Transgender’: Mourning the Passing of Queer Korean Activists – Minju Kim
▲Image: Memorial in Sinchon, Seoul for recently lost transgender activists. Credit: @tg_jokabo / Twitter Author: Minju Kim ‘Scrutinizing gender again...and recognizing transgender people as ‘citizens’ can traverse and move beyond the de facto gender norms.’ Seonwoo Yoon in 'Scrutinizing ‘Gender’ to ‘Transgender’ On February 24 2021, Kihong Kim, Co-Chair of the Jeju Queer Culture Festival Organization Committee and a former candidate for Proportional...
Abolishment of Hojuje – Hyeonjeong Kim
▲Image: Campaign for abolition of hojuje. From 30 years of women's movement, record of courage and solidarity. Insoon Nam. The Women’s News. (https://www.womennews.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=118065) Author: Hyeonjeong Kim Editor: Minju Kim The abolishment of ‘hojuje’ is highlighted as a significant event within the Korean women’s rights movement. The abolishment of this system was celebrated as guaranteeing women’s social rights, and encouraging Korean society to...
The rights of pregnant migrant workers in Taiwan are still forgotten – Grace Huang/Catta Yu-Hsuan Chou
Author: Grace Huang, Secretary-General, Domestic Caretaker Union Translated by Catta Yu-Hsuan Chou, EAYAN Program Participant [See below for the original] If a migrant caregiver is pregnant, can she continue her work? Can she deliver the child in Taiwan? Can she enjoy the pregnancy-checkup leave and maternity leave? The above answers are all "yes," but in fact, very few migrant caregivers can use...
Dealing with Maternity Leave as a Migrant Domestic Worker – Greta Lai
Greta Lai EAYAN Program Participant Hong Kong is finally catching up with the International Labour Organization (ILO)’s standard of at least 14 weeks maternity leave.[1] The new legislation has taken effect on 11 December 2020, extending current statutory maternity leave from 10 to 14 weeks.[2] While this definitely is great news for working women in Hong Kong, how does it work...
The Revision Plan on the Abortion Law: Still a Step Backwards for Women’s Rights – Jihyeon Bae
Jihyeon Bae Human Asia Volunteer (Credit: Hani) On April 11, 2019, women in South Korea were finally released from becoming ‘criminalized bodies’ after 66 years living under an abortion ban. On this day, South Korea’s ban on abortion was ruled as unconstitutional. The Constitutional Court ordered that the law must be revised by the end of 2020, stating: “This constitutes as an...
Women in Christianity: A Look into Korea’s Church Leadership – Yejin Son
Yejin Son Human Asia Intern (Image: Members of Chongshin Unversity’s Women’s Association calling for the permission of female pastors in front of the joint general meeting of the Yejang denomination, 2017. Credit: Voice of the People) As a seemingly mono-ethnic, secular nation that upholds the freedom to practice all religions in the constitutional, societal, and individual level, it is surprising that more...
Dreaming of a Society Free from Digital Sex Crimes – Hyeonjeong Kim
Hyeonjeong Kim Human Asia Volunteer (Picture: Yonhap. Source: The Korea Herald) Recently, online sexual violence against women, as exemplified in the Telegram Nth Room scandal, drew widespread public attention in South Korea. The chat room operators obtained explicit sexual and sometimes violent footage of victims including children and adolescents, such as nude photos. They lured victims under false pretenses, including offering employment,...
A Step Towards Artivism: How is the Korean Film Industry Changing? – April Park
April Park Human Asia Project Intern (Video: Marie Claire Korea, Youtube. Press CC for English.) In commemoration of International Women’s Day, Marie Claire Korea has released its third Gender Free Campaign video on March 6, 2020. The video shows eight female actresses, delivering lines originally performed by male actors. The campaign serves to raise awareness about gender fluidity and to break gender...