[K-Women Talk] Gender Conflict, Now Needs Concrete Policy Solutions

[Asia Economy] There is no society in a vacuum completely free of conflict. As democracy deepens, conflicts in various areas and on diverse topics frequently occur. The key issue is whether these conflicts are resolved through dialogue and deliberation without building psychological barriers between groups. From this perspective, the resolution of ‘gender conflict’ seems to have made no progress. Despite raising significant questions in our society over the past few years, it has not moved forward at all. On the contrary, its aftershocks have spread from the political sphere to workplace life, everyday relationships, and even to situations of mourning with a heavy heart.

‘Gender conflict’ has become a term that is both unfamiliar and frequently encountered. According to research by the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs, discussions related to ‘gender conflict’ existed even in the 1990s, but surged sharply after the 2016 ‘Gangnam Station Female Murder Case.’ Some people describe ‘gender conflict’ as a confrontation between men and women, while others argue that the term ‘gender conflict’ itself cannot be established.

Others see it as an attack on women’s policies. Numerous articles, books, and research reports have been published regarding the background and causes of the ‘gender conflict’ phenomenon. Some view expensive housing issues and job competition as the fundamental causes, while others explain it in connection with digital platforms such as social networking services (SNS), changes and polarization in the labor market, class and generational conflicts, and differences in perceptions surrounding gender issues among young women and men. There is also a perspective that the media and political circles have exaggerated and driven the confrontational framework. The current ‘gender conflict’ phenomenon is undoubtedly a very complex issue combining all these factors.

When considering solutions to ‘gender conflict,’ it is crucial not to overlook that we are currently in a transitional period of gender relations. Our society is passing through a time when the gender regime is undergoing a full-scale transformation. The patriarchal hierarchy that permeated generational and gender relations is weakening, and more people desire to move toward equal relationships between generations and genders, with respect for the individual becoming the dominant norm.

This phenomenon is becoming increasingly clear, and as Hong Chansuk points out, it seems that the previously dominant norms have become a vacuum, leading to a conflict between new and old norms. While gender relations are changing in this way, focusing only on the gender confrontation framework or, conversely, remaining silent out of fear of causing noise both effectively perpetuate the problem.

Despite the ‘gender conflict’ phenomenon progressing over a considerable period around issues such as hiring discrimination by gender, organizational culture, sexual crimes, and military service obligations, efforts to hold policy consultation forums, comprehensively examine the ‘gender conflict’ issues of young women and men, and organize policy demands into actionable policies have been insufficient. More focused attention should have been given to the common demands of youth arising from societal changes and the gender-specific demands.

‘Gender conflict’ is not a problem between young men and women. It is the result of delayed policies that have failed to lead societal changes. Although late, from now on, we must comprehensively organize the phenomena and causes of ‘gender conflict,’ seek legislative and policy alternatives from the perspectives of diversity, equity, and inclusion, and actively implement them. Through dialogue and deliberation processes that transcend camps and ideologies, we must lower the barriers of conflict between genders and open the path to empathy. We must no longer allow the youth, who will be the backbone of our society in the near future, to be trapped in the quagmire of ‘gender conflict.’ I hope that actions gathering true wisdom and consensus will emerge here and there.

Cha Insun, Adjunct Professor, National Assembly Legislative Research Institute