This file photo shows people crossing a street in Seoul. (Yonhap)
SEOUL, May 30 (Korea Bizwire) — Men waiting to join the military and women pursuing their studies had the highest level of perceived gender conflict, a government study has shown.
Notably, the perception of gender conflict among women negatively affected their intention to have children.
The joint study by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family Affairs and the Bank of Korea analyzed data from the “Youth Life Course and Future Prospects Survey” conducted by the ministry, including 8,583 participants aged 20 to 39.
The results showed that women had a higher perception of gender conflict compared to men.
Additionally, individuals in their 20s were more likely to perceive gender conflict than those in their 30s. Married individuals and those with children also had higher perceptions of gender conflict.
The study revealed that women experienced the highest level of gender conflict awareness during their college or university years, followed by engagement in economic activity, unemployment, and domestic work.
For men, the highest awareness of gender conflict was among those waiting to join the military, followed by the unemployed, students, and employed individuals.
Interestingly, men performing domestic work showed a negative perception of gender conflict, albeit based on a small sample size.
The negative impact of perceived gender conflict was primarily observed among women’s intention to have children.
However, perceived gender conflict did not significantly affect income or the probability of marriage for either gender.
A person attending a Women’s Day ceremony on March 8, 2019, holding a sign that reads, “Gender equality completes democracy.” (Yonhap)
These findings prompted the researchers to emphasize the importance of prioritizing policies that reduce perceived gender conflict among women due to its higher prevalence and negative impact.
Despite the perception of gender conflict, there has been an overall increase in South Koreans’ perception of gender equality.
The Gender Equality Surveys conducted in 2016 and 2021 indicated a decline in perceptions of inequality and an increase in perceptions of gender equality.
This change was particularly significant among women under 30, with a notable shift towards perceiving society as more equal for both genders.
Looking ahead, women expressed greater concern about increasing gender inequality in the coming years, while men believed that society would become more equal.
The researchers concluded that although there is a prevailing notion of increased gender conflict, the perception of gender equality has strengthened, indicating a more balanced perspective on gender inequality.
The study highlights the variations in perceived gender conflict among young adults and its impact on women’s desire to have children.
Additionally, it points out the evolving perceptions of gender equality in South Korean society, suggesting a growing awareness and aspiration for greater gender equality.
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
