"Women, Culture, and Society"

This article definitely was helpful in broadening the scope on a more global level in regards to the interlocking oppressions of race, class, and gender beyond the African American experience. The author illustrates the oppressions of gender that perpetuate sex labor division in the ever industrialized Korea and conceptualizes it historical relevance in an attempt to highlight the transitional period in search of the alternative to the society in which we function that is deeply embedded in patriarchy. Lie analyzes the role of women in the transition from agrarian patriarchy to patriarchal capitalism as it specifically relates to Korea and breaks down the differences as well as the commonalities as they are both plagued with some sort of hierarchical demand. Similar to the Marxist-Feminist analysis, women's subordination is said to have been a result of the growth of capitalism in the government in developing societies. The two interacting systems that objectify both women and men are patriarchy and capitalism. The exploitation of the male labor, at cheap cost, that ultimately becomes a class issue because there lies a huge division among the workers and owners while the surplus is allocated for the owners. The second component is the exploitation of women. Because of the political climate that implies a need for authority over women, men are categorized as an authoritative class that permissibly rules over women. The women and men are trapped in gender roles that are all, according to this analysis, derived from the separation of production of good that once originated in the home to the prioritization of markets and industry booming. The issue in both frameworks stresses that the major contributor to such division in the work force is considered the "public versus private" matter. While men were outside of the home working their contribution was viewed as a public gain for not only their families but also for the economy. However, the women that were restricted to the domestic roles maintaining the upkeep of the household were seen to be contributing privately. Even when she was afforded the opportunity in the work force she was always lower in status than the male no matter her capabilities. The women were also vehicles for economic gain as they historically have been valued for their reproductive labor and consumerism all to ensure the functionality for their household highlighting the paid vs. unpaid labor that is said to make up the "nuclear family". Tracing this cycle of subordination and sex labor division was quite interesting and showed that since the beginning there has a been a focus to capitalize on people's abilities at any cost. In many ways the system has been adjusted due to emancipation laws and passed bills, however, the sense of ownership over one's body for economic gain is still practiced and has simply shifted from slavery to wage slavery.