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A review by hippolyta_vi
Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982 by Cho Nam-joo
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Maybe this isn't fair to say, but out of the few pieces of Korean literature I've read, I've found the messaging a few years behind what I'm used to. Let me explain. Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982 is undoubtably a feminist text, but a feminist text that broadcasts "basic" feminism. I'm not saying this as a negative by any means. We still need texts like these because not everyone has taken a Women and Gender Studies course or read formative feminist literatures.
What I do find intriguing about this is that I'm getting to learn about the universality of women's struggles. I find this notion both disheartening and ...comforting, as odd as that sounds. What this piece of Korean literature showed me is that women around the world are united by our oppression (obviously it looks different to people with varying intersections but the similarities are undeniable).
I am a white woman, born and raised in North America in the 2000s. The main subject of this novel is a Korean born and raised woman of the 80s and 90s. Our lives are incredibly different, yet the lines "Teachers are in the habit of saying that girls are smarter. Students also thought that girls were smarter, more mature and better with detailed work, how always elected boys to be class monitors" struck me. It's something I think about often. When did the agreed upon opinion that girls are smarter disappear? Why were we allowed to be smarter but not leaders? Many anecdotes in Jiyoung's life related to some of my own.
I was also struck by the feminine rebellion and rage demonstrated by characters in Jiyoung's life, mostly insignificant characters. Women have been pushing back against patriarchy for ages and these moments throughout the novel exemplified hope. These stories are echoed in the current 4B movement in South Korea (which if you don't know about, please look it up because it's pretty awesome). And for that reason, I appreciate this book, despite its often rudimentary/well-known messages.
(Then again, I am not the Korean public. This book was likely not written with me in mind and therefore I cannot truly understand its significance so please take that feedback with a grain of salt)
Also, the last line of this book is killer. It's both so agonizing yet so smart and I NEED to talk to someone about it.
What I do find intriguing about this is that I'm getting to learn about the universality of women's struggles. I find this notion both disheartening and ...comforting, as odd as that sounds. What this piece of Korean literature showed me is that women around the world are united by our oppression (obviously it looks different to people with varying intersections but the similarities are undeniable).
I am a white woman, born and raised in North America in the 2000s. The main subject of this novel is a Korean born and raised woman of the 80s and 90s. Our lives are incredibly different, yet the lines "Teachers are in the habit of saying that girls are smarter. Students also thought that girls were smarter, more mature and better with detailed work, how always elected boys to be class monitors" struck me. It's something I think about often. When did the agreed upon opinion that girls are smarter disappear? Why were we allowed to be smarter but not leaders? Many anecdotes in Jiyoung's life related to some of my own.
I was also struck by the feminine rebellion and rage demonstrated by characters in Jiyoung's life, mostly insignificant characters. Women have been pushing back against patriarchy for ages and these moments throughout the novel exemplified hope. These stories are echoed in the current 4B movement in South Korea (which if you don't know about, please look it up because it's pretty awesome). And for that reason, I appreciate this book, despite its often rudimentary/well-known messages.
(Then again, I am not the Korean public. This book was likely not written with me in mind and therefore I cannot truly understand its significance so please take that feedback with a grain of salt)
Also, the last line of this book is killer. It's both so agonizing yet so smart and I NEED to talk to someone about it.