Title is inspired from Sherlock Holmes' titles. However, this should have been better titled as Post-Chuseok Effects for Foreign Wives in Korea which sounds more apt for an academic paper.
IT isn't unheard of that divorce rate for Koreans goes up after a big national holiday such as Chuseok and New Year. The usual cause or maybe catalyst would be the humongous preparations that the wives have to do during these occasions. Traditionally speaking, women do all the chores and men do almost nothing in preparing all of the food and whatnots that are needed for the traditional observance. This is a common issue for Korean women nowadays.
I pretty much know about this part but what I learned this time is there are other aspect in these traditional holidays that can also cause some disagreements, or possibly divorce if it can go worse. This is the bowing part. I have not been pressed to do that since the first time I refused because of religious reasons. I never realized that some Korean families are very strict about that to a point that they might actually raise the issue of a possible divorce case.
Some foreign wives do feel a little uncomfortable in not doing so, specially the CHristian foreign wives. Yet, it is more uncomfortable if they do suddenly change and follow the local norms. I, myself, am a bit on the same boat even if I was fortunate enough to have a more understanding and open-minded extended Korean family. I've just realized how blessed I am that I didn't hear any negative repercussions about it. Or if there ever was, I am just so oblivious and numb.
No comments:
Post a Comment