북한의 여성과 가정생활

Women and Family Life in North-Korea

The purpose of this study is to examine the Women's policy and family life in North-Korea. In order to accomplish the purpose of the study, two specific objectives are pursued. The first objective is what the current status of women's labor, marriage and family's policy in North-Korea are. The second one is what the family structure, economic status, childrearing and housework are. In North-Korea, women's policy is not aimed at improving women's status for doing away with the existing states of things, but at solving the problems of women's labor mobilization for dictatorship of the proletariat. In North-Korea, marriage policy is used to make possible to bring up each family member with great loyalty to the government. In fact, this policy is similar to the marriage permission-system. So, the motto of a North-Korean family might be "Be Revolutionary." In doing so, the government approves for individuals to sleep and rest at home for eight hours a day. The rest of the time must be used to work and study on the head. There has been always great demand for women's entire labor force. Because of this fact, the day public nursery has risen rapidly to continue a communism. This system begins with the need for women's labor force. The day public nursery system contributes to draw women's labor and to produce a communism. But, this system starts from the assumptions that women have to take charge of childrearing. Up to now, men have gained predominance over women. Women are in very stressful situation not only because they are urged to work but also they have primary responsible for housework. In order to help women manage their "the double role" for home and workshop, the socialization of housework strategy has been strongly recommended in North-Korea. But Socialization of housework strategy has been proven to have a number of problems: the loss of family individuality, inhumanization of family, family's scattering, and a low quality. Therefore, this strategy has not been used widely. But, in North Korea, because the predominance of men over women is stronger than it is in South-Korea, men don't work and women must work alone at home. Also, the mechanization of housework is yet very far from North-Korean life due to a shortage of goods. Consequently, women's policy of North-Korea is not for the emancipation of women, but for the economic system. Women are still in distress for heavy labor in the workshop and house. Finally, the author wishes that this study contributes to understand the family life in North-Korea and to lay a groundwork to understand each other better.