[The Typing Baker] Messages from 'Idaenyeo', Their Gaze Toward the Future

Voices Beyond Women: Advocating for Minorities Too

[Asia Economy Reporter Gong Byung-sun] The generation most frequently mentioned and spotlighted since the Moon Jae-in administration is likely the Idaenam (men in their 20s). Candidates in the 20th presidential election, having witnessed the significant influence of Idaenam in last year's Seoul mayoral election, competed to present policies and rhetoric aimed at this group.

Meanwhile, Idaenyeo (women in their 20s) naturally fell out of the discourse. This led to skepticism about women's political organizational power. Moreover, a certain politician even stated ahead of this presidential election that "women's voting intention is lower than men's."

However, women rejecting the male-dominated arena, including Idaenam, have emerged. The book they authored is titled Women Who Break the Mold.

The three authors of this book?Shin Min-ju, Noh Seo-young, and Laura?deliver messages for the future of Idaenyeo despite facing social restrictions such as malicious comments. They cover a wide range of areas, mentioning issues that twenty-somethings would be interested in, including not only political parties but also social networking services (SNS), online communities, and workplaces.

The authors' message begins as one for women only. They raise issues with a society that freely expresses misogyny, using derogatory terms like "Kimchi-nyeo" (a term belittling Korean women). Unless this hatred is overcome, women will never feel safe living in Korean society. No matter how safe the public security is, when extreme hatred manifests as violence directed at oneself, one can only suffer helplessly. This idea is the starting point of the feminism reboot.

Furthermore, they explain why the term "misandry" does not apply unless women rise above men in the social hierarchy. Hate speech is fundamentally used in situations where hierarchy is assumed. For reference, as of 2021, South Korea's Global Gender Gap Index (GGI) by the World Economic Forum was 0.687, ranking 102nd out of 153 countries. Since this index reflects the gap between men and women in society rather than just women's human rights, it can be considered a good reflection of the reality faced by Korean women.

The message, which started limited to women, grows larger as it extends to minorities. The authors criticize the Democratic Party of Korea for securing 180 seats in the last general election but hesitating to enact the "Anti-Discrimination Act," which protects various minorities. In this presidential election as well, candidates from the two major parties either effectively opposed the Anti-Discrimination Act or avoided it by saying further discussion is needed. For reference, the Anti-Discrimination Act was first proposed in the National Assembly 15 years ago, in 2007.

If Idaenyeo only voiced complaints and dissatisfaction, they would not be able to become a political force. However, the authors bring up various political issues for the future, such as new family structures and basic income. Whether it is single-person households or basic income, the one point they emphasize is the need for policies that focus on the individual "me," not the collective "we." Policies centered on "me" will ultimately lead to the expansion of human rights for all.

Everyone witnessed this during the recent presidential election. Idaenyeo are fully capable of setting the stage and leading discourse. For those curious about the discourse they will create in the future, this book is recommended.

Women Who Break the Mold | Shin Min-ju, Noh Seo-young, Laura | Hankyoreh Publishing | 223 pages | 15,000 KRW

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.