News of female students’ enrollment surpassing male students in colleges and watching more and more women leaders like the director of International Monetary Fund, Christine Lagarde, and UN consultant Han Bi-Ya prove that the status of women has improved. The endeavor for gender equality now seems to be showing positive results. Yet the United Nations and many non-governmental organizations continue to make efforts to empower women. While women’s economic and social status are improving, the archetype of a woman and women’s roles in relationships with men have changed little.

It is easy to see such an issue in the media. In the movie, The Proposal, Sandra Bullock, editor of a publishing company, is an expert in her field, Though Ms. Bullock’s character is at a higher level in the hierarchy, the movie ends with her male secretary being portrayed as brave for asking her to continue their relationship and he later takes on the lead. In addition, despite their high social status, the male characters of the well-known television show, Gossip Girl, who escort the ladies and protect them. Even when turning on the television, we see celebrities like Girls Generation, who are pretty and extremely skinny, appear as if they are seeking protection.

In reality as in the media, women do not strive for empowerment at all times. According to Katie Roiphe’s article “Spanking Goes Mainstream” in Newsweek Magazine, the popularity of romantic novels with sadist content has not declined. She explains, “It may be that power is not always that comfortable, even for those of us who grew up in it; it may be that equality is something we want only sometimes and in some places and in some arenas; it may be that power and all of its imperative can be boring.” In other words, free will becomes a burden from time to time, hence, some women may have a tendency to desire relationships in which they are controlled by men and seek similar books.

A sociologist, Rowyn Connell argues that in society a hierarchy exists in which men dominate women. At the very top is hegemonic masculinity which is most powerful and dominates femininity. While there are two types of femininity they are all subordinated to masculinity: one with characteristics of compliance, nurturance and empathy and the other with non-subordinated identities and resistance to conventions. Although masculinity dominates femininities, masculinity dislike the non-subordinated group. For example, take a look at political leaders: U.S. president Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama, and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon and his wife Mrs. Yoo Sun-Taek are often caught in the press. However, has anyone seen husbands standing behind female leaders? Hilary Clinton, Han Myung-Sook and other women leaders are always alone. The status of women has been hanced, nevertheless men who are used to masculine society may be uncomfortable with these ladies who are not subordinate. This may be the cause of the increase in divorced couples and single households, leaving female leaders alone in photographs.

In spite of the improvement in women’s status in society, a majority of women attempt to go on a diet and make themselves into a figure needing protection in relationships with men. In the context of male-female relationships women tend to keep the same status as they have had in the past. The media, the desire to escape from the pressure and responsibility as leaders, or any other factor can become the cause of this. Yet, opposing ideas may exist. Do women seem to thrive for empowerment in all aspects or only in certain fields for you?

Hwang Suh-Jean(Guest Reporter)

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