The Women of North Korea: Mothers and Market Leaders



Analysis The Women of North Korea: Mothers and Market Leaders What circumstances led women to become the drivers of North Korea's market economy? Gianluca Spezza April 24, 2013 SHARE COPY LINK FACEBOOK X LINKEDIN MASTODON NK News Part 1 of our special series on North Korean women introduced the female iconography of the DPRK. In this second part, we explore the various roles of North Korean women and the realities of their daily lives. A Model State? The System Vs. The Reality The DPRK takes pride in claiming to have eradicated gender inequality, a phenomena previously regarded by Kim Il Sung as both a ‘feudal vestige’ and evidence of the brutality of the Japanese occupation. And to his benefit, many experts agree that the DPRK has at least kept a de jurecommitment to gender equality, © Korea Risk Group. All rights reserved. No part of this content may be reproduced, distributed, or used for commercial purposes without prior written permission from Korea Risk Group. Get the Daily Update & Podcast Updates Start your day with the North Korea stories that matter most – as selected by Trending

Analysis

The Women of North Korea: Mothers and Market Leaders

What circumstances led women to become the drivers of North Korea's market economy?

Gianluca Spezza April 24, 2013

The Women of North Korea: Mothers and Market Leaders

NK News

Part 1 of our special series on North Korean women introduced the female iconography of the DPRK. In this second part, we explore the various roles of North Korean women and the realities of their daily lives.

A Model State? The System Vs. The Reality

The DPRK takes pride in claiming to have eradicated gender inequality, a phenomena previously regarded by Kim Il Sung as both a ‘feudal vestige’ and evidence of the brutality of the Japanese occupation. And to his benefit, many experts agree that the DPRK has at least kept a de jurecommitment to gender equality,

About the Author

Gianluca Spezza

Gianluca Spezza earned his PhD in 2017 from the University of Central Lancashire under the supervision of Professor Hazel Smith, on the strength of research on the cooperation between UNICEF and the DPRK in education and childcare. Dr Spezza is an assistant professor of international relations and a senior researcher at the DPRK Strategy Center at KIMEP University in Almaty, Kazakhstan; he is writing a monograph on education, international cooperation, and human capital in North Korea (Palgrave 2021). His work on the DPRK, articles or interviews, can be found, among others, on the websites of the BBC, The Guardian, The Diplomat, IRIN News, NK News, DR.dk, Newsweek Korea, and El Confidential.

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