지역여성단체 현황과 활성화 방안 연구

A Survey on the Realities of the Local Women's Organization and Its Programs

This paper focuses on the actual conditions of the local women's organization. These organizations are regarded as the best vehicle for improving women's status in local areas. However, the survey results of current situation of local women's organization reveals the organization is to a large extent in a very poor condition. The survey covered all the women's organization located in the six biggest cities and six seats of the provincial government. Among the 1,082 organizations, survey questionnaires were delivered to the 1,054 organizations, and 422 questionnaires were returned from August 23 to September 15 in 1999. 400 questionnaire were included in the final analysis. If we briefly examine the results, 78.0% of the organizations are "registered", 61.5% are "chapters of the Center", 74.5% are "members of the Women's Organization Council" and 16.0% are "member of the Women's Organization Union". The size of the organization varies from very small one having less than 30 members with only one person in charge to huge one having more than 10,000 members with 16 board members. And 59.8% of the organizations have no paid staff. In case of facilities, only 52.8% of these organizations have their own office, 56% have their own telephone number, 39.6% have a fax machine, and 36.2% own a computer. Only 28(7%) of these organizations have a homepage. In terms of working expenses, there is a great dispanity among these organization. 48.3% of the organizations spend less than 5 million won costs of operation. 95% of the organizations depend heavily upon their membership fees to manage the organization. The main purposes of these local women's organizations are as follows; 'Community development and volunteer work'(66.5%); The enhancement of 'women's status'(13.8%), The improvement in 'the quality and well-being of its members'(9.8%) and 'Cultivating mutual friendship'(4.3%) etc.. In the second part of this study the problems which is supposed to be experienced by most local women's organization are analyzed. For the convenience of this analysis, we have divided our analysis into four sections: First, among the organization-related problems, 'the lack of administrative and financial support'(mean value 3.29) was pointed out as the most serious problem, then 'the members' activities for the organization do not pay back'(mean value 2.88), and 'lack of independence and self regulation of the local women's organization'(mean value 2.63), and so forth. Second, in regards to problems of the membership and leadership, the style of 'leadership'(mean value 3.07) was recognized as the most difficult problem, followed by 'underestimation of the leader's activities'(mean value 3.04), and the burden of role playing by members'(mean value 2.82) was regarded as the third barrier to activate the local women's organization etc.. Third, in regards to problems relating to organizational activities & program-related issues, 'too much emphasis on the volunteer work' and 'the lack shortage of the program satisfying members' cultural needs'(mean value 3.01) are selected at the same time as the most urgent problem the organization needs to solve. Another problem was the 'lack of programs dedicated to the improvement women's status' and a 'lack of public relations vis-a-vis organizational activities'(mean value 2.97). Fourth, in the area of the other activities, the mean value(3.29) of 'the financial support increased' shows the highest, and 'the space for the women's activities should be secured'(mean value 3.06) shows the second highest. In order to activate these local women's organizations, 'The organization should continue to make an effort'; 'The government should offer administrative and financial support'; 'Gain understanding and cooperation from family members as well as the local community', 'Gain social rewards in their organizational activities' etc. are suggested.