[Recollection] Life-Changing Gender Equal Democracy for Gender Justice—The 34th Korean Women’s Rally

Last Sunday, March 4^th, the 34^th Korean Women’s Rally on International Women’s Day was held in Gwanghwamoon Square. The agenda of the rally this year was “Life-Changing Gender Equal Democracy for Gender Justice.”

 

Six main rallying cries were:

#Life-Changing Expansion of Female Representativeness,

#Life-Changing Removal of Gender Wage Gap,

#Life-Changing Repeal of Abortion Ban,

#Life-Changing Enactment of Anti-Discrimination Act,

#Life-Changing Removal of Sexual Violence,

#Life-Changing Gender Equal Constitutional Amendment.

 

 

 

A stage was set up in the middle of the square, and many feminists and NGOs put up interesting booths with feminist souvenirs and various programs.

 

In the Korean Women Workers Association’s booth, we held a survey event, which we had done online last time, called “Gender equal labor is OOO.” Visitors could answer the question either by putting stickers representing their experience of gender-based discrimination in the workplace or by writing down what gender equal labor means to them.

 

 

 

 

 

More than a hundred people put stickers and wrote down what they think of gender equal labor.

 

People could choose from twenty-eight different stickers, out of which most popular answers were “I have heard (or experienced) that woman of more than certain age are hard to get a job,” “From young, I have been burdened to help domestic labor during holidays as a daughter,” “I have a lot been ordered to cook for father or brothers.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other answers like “I have been pointed out my appearance, make-up, or attire in the workplace,” “I have heard ‘woman should not be crude like you’ in the workplace or at home” occupied a lot too. We will soon publish card news about this survey.

 

Moreover, participants defined the seemingly vague phrase “gender equal labor” in their own words, such as “Shared domestic labor,” “No childcare by myself,” “Equal domestic labor is the prerequisite of gender equal labor,” “Equal labor, equal pay” and so on.

 

 

 

Korean Women’s Rally in 2018 had a special meaning because it was held in the high tide of the #MeToo movement. Thus, we organized a #MeToo Shouting-Speaking Rally, putting off the official opening ceremony of the anniversary to the last.

 

 

 

Speakers, who had applied in advance, shared their previously-silenced or -neglected experiences. They shouted it out in the square without any restriction but with other participants’ solidarity and support.

 

 

We sincerely hope that the perpetrators be punished, and the victims go back to their peaceful everyday lives. Thanks to the victims’ courageous disclosure and declaration, society without sexism and sexual violence will arrive soon.

 

After the #MeToo Shouting-Speaking Rally, the participants marched down the Jongno street with the banners representing the contemporary Korean women’s main issues. Thousands of feminists shouted out rally cries along the street.

 

 

Democracy cannot be accomplished without gender equality!

 

 

Uproot all sorts of sexual violence! Your era has ended!

 

Protect women’s reproductive rights! Repeal the Abortion Ban!

 

Half the population is women! Expand female representativeness!

 

Korean Women Workers Association put emphasis on “Resolve gender wage gap!” Volunteers helped holding the banners.

 

 

 

 

 

We also picketed with signs, crying “Sexual violence in the workplace has not been uprooted because the Government has not properly inspected and punished! It is because of the state system!”

 

 

The one-hour-and-a-half march was followed by award ceremony in the square.

 

 

 

 

Feminist Movement of the Year Award went to Park of Renault Samsung Motors. She reported in 2013 a sexual harassment incident she experienced in the workplace and has fought against the company since then. Renault Samsung Motors has disadvantaged her and her supporters by every possible measure such as exclusion from work, disciplinary punishment, suspension of performance of her duties, and forcing her to wait to be assigned. In response to these disadvantages, Park claimed the compensation for damage against the company. After five years of lawsuit, she finally won from the Supreme Court. We hope this award can be comfort and energy for her.

 

Obstacle to Gender Equality Award went to;  

Korea Gas Safety Corporation, who failed female applicants by manipulating job interview score.

Hanssem Corporation, who provided the worst case of coping with sexual violence in the workplace.

Africa TV Corporation, who promotes and aids and abets misogynistic broadcasting contents.

Full bench of Jeju District Court of the first instance of domestic sexual violence on an immigrant woman, who forced the victim to look like victim.

Daegu Catholic Hospital and Hallym University Hospital, who sexually objectify nurses.

Daegu Bank, who cause re-victimization by tepidly reacting to sexual violence incident in the workplace.

 

 

 

Steppingstone for Gender Equality Award went to;

Elementary School teacher Choi Hyunhee (Majungmulsaem), who established a feminist teachers’ group called Research Group for Gender Equality in Elementary School Education and tries feminist education.

Accuser 5 and Deviation (Talseon), who brought up the prevalent sexual violence in the literary world.

The defense council of the US military camp comfort women’s litigation to request compensation for damage by the state, who induced the court’s judgement to contend the state’s responsibility on this state-driven prostitution.

Six writers of a book It Is Not Trivial At All: The Stories of the Female Survivors of Domestic Violence, who drove social change by speaking and writing.

 

Planning group of Stop at 3 O’clock Rally on the International Women’s Day, who broadly publicized the serious gender wage gap, won this award too. Korean Women Workers Association as the organizer of this plan was so proud of it!

 

 

 

Representatives of regional Women Workers Associations congratulated us with love and solidarity.

 

The 34^th Korean Women’s Rally ended as such. Though it was a bit rainy, many women and feminists crowded the square and the streets with mutual support and solidarity.

 

 

 

 

 

Until the Life-Changing Gender Equal Democracy arrives and until all kinds of sexual violence disappears in our society, Korean Women Workers Association will stand by women with passion of solidarity and support.

See you again on the next feminist holiday!