'Pinching Hand' Gesture Made with Thumb and Index Finger
Counter Banner Under the Banner Hung by Women’s Party
The 'pinching finger' gesture, made by forming the thumb and index finger into a pincer shape, is fueling gender conflicts. This conflict recently spread to a banner displayed in the heart of Seoul.
A banner criticizing the Women's Party regarding the 'Jipge Son' controversy at the entrance of Gyodae Station in Seocho-gu, Seoul. Directly below it, another banner is hung, rebutting the Women's Party banner. [Photo by Online Community]
On the 2nd, photos were posted on various online communities and social networking services (SNS) showing a banner put up by the Women’s Party at the entrance of Gyodae Station in Seocho-gu, Seoul, with an anonymous banner directly below it refuting the message.
The banner posted by the Women’s Party shows a hand in a pincer shape pulling out a Jenga block. Next to it is written, "Pulling out female talent with fingers is a shortcut to a company’s collapse." The Women’s Party has continuously criticized the 'pinching finger' controversy, stating on their official Instagram and X (formerly Twitter) accounts, "Women are repeatedly censored and disadvantaged even for a single hand gesture at work, yet the state remains silent," and "We will hold accountable the companies that actively cooperated with ideological censorship and the government that overlooked it, and we will not give up on securing the survival and rights of female workers."
Below this banner, an anonymous rebuttal was posted, stating, "Employees who arbitrarily insert images not approved by the company, causing unnecessary conflict and damage, should be fired regardless of gender." It continued, "If you don’t like it, start a pig’s feet restaurant, use your own finger photos, and prosper."
In a video uploaded on Renault Korea's official YouTube channel, employee B is seen making the controversial 'claw hand' pose. The video has since been deleted. [Photo by Renault Korea YouTube capture]
This controversy arose after a female employee on Renault Korea’s YouTube channel was accused of habitually making the 'pinching finger' gesture during the unveiling of the hybrid sports utility vehicle (SUV) 'Grand Koleos' in the domestic market for the first time in four years last month. The pinching finger gesture is used as a misogynistic expression in radical feminist communities. However, the female employee apologized, saying it was an "unconscious action." Currently, Renault Korea has deleted the controversial video and excluded the employee from work duties.
Following Renault Korea, Volvo Group Korea also faced the 'pinching finger' controversy. A problematic internal promotional poster from Volvo Group Korea features illustrations of three people against a blue background. Among them, the person reading a book holds the book with one hand and makes the 'pinching finger' pose, known as the 'misogynistic finger,' with the other. This 'pinching finger' gesture was found in three out of four posters.
The Women’s Party has designated 10 locations to display their banners, including ▲Renault Korea Seongsu ▲Nexon Korea ▲Gyodae Station Exit 9 ▲Gangnam Station Exit 9. The banners are scheduled to be displayed from the 29th of last month until the 12th of this month.
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