The report suggested that stereotypes about gender roles among international couples are much stronger than those of Korean couples. (image: Yonhap)
SEOUL, Jan. 24 (Korea Bizwire) — A recent study has found that marital discord among multicultural families is severe, however there are no detailed policies in place to solve these issues.
According to a recent report titled “The Reality of Gender Inequality among Multicultural Families and Policy Direction” released by the Korea Women’s Policy Institute on Wednesday, 70 to 80 percent of women in multicultural families answered that they are responsible for house chores.
The report was based on a survey of 500 wives from China (except Korean-Chinese), the Philippines and Vietnam, and 257 Korean husbands.
They were asked who was responsible for preparing meals, washing and cleaning their home.
In the decision-making process between married couples, 40.4 percent of women and 50.8 percent of male respondents said husbands typically make decisions about living expenses and property management, while 26.8 percent and 14.6 percent said wives do so.
According to a survey of the percentage of women who agreed that ‘family life should be the responsibility of men,’ 71.6 percent of foreign wives and 83.7 percent of Korean husbands agreed with the passage.
In comparison, in a 2016 survey of 4,400 households nationwide by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, 37 percent of women and 47.4 percent of men agreed with the same statement.
The report suggested that stereotypes about gender roles among international couples are much stronger than those of Korean couples.
The report pointed out that policies should be established to clarify the concept of ‘democratic and gender-equal family relationships’ which is stipulated in the multicultural family support law.
“The basic plan for multicultural family policies should include policy tasks and detailed actions about the issue of gender equality and promoting gender equal family relations,” Said Kim Yi-sun, a researcher at the Korean Women’s Development Institute.
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
