이 글은 1946년생인 윤성이의 구술생애사를 가부장제, 산업화, 젠더 관계의 변화를중심으로 분석한 글이다. 윤성이는 평범한 여성이지만 한국사회의 산업화 시기를 통해도시 이주, 경제활동 참여를 경험했다는 점에서 이전 세대의 여성들과는 다른 삶의 경로를 지나왔다. 아들을 갈망하던 집안의 다섯 번째 막내딸이었던 윤성이의 출생, 시어머니와 남편의 구박과 냉대가 일상이었던 윤성이 어머니의 삶 전반은 여성의 가치를 폄하하고 억압하는 가부장제에 종속되어 있었다. 그러나 도시 이주, 개발, 교육(기술), 경제활동 참여의 기회는 윤성이의 삶을 다르게 이끌었다. 이 글은 특정한 시대와 배경, 무엇보다 사회변동 시기를 살아온 여성 경험에 대한 분석이 가부장제와 같은 사회구조와 주체간의 상호작용, 젠더 관계 변화의 동인과 그 효과 등을 설명할 수 있다고 보았다. 이에구술생애사 방법을 통해 가부장제와 산업화의 충돌과 공모 속에서 생존해 온 윤성이의경험에 초점을 두었다. 그의 삶에 나타난 경제적 성취와 자원 보유라는 변화, 그리고 가부장적 가치와 이데올로기에의 순응은 젠더 관계의 갈등과 재구성의 효과, 가족가치의극복과 좌절이라는 일견 모순적이나 복합적으로 연관된 삶의 과정과 결과를 잘 드러내주고 있다.
This paper explores the ways in which patriarchy and capitalism have created both changes and challenges in women’s lives. It particularly pays attention to women’s changing relationship with patriarchy to reveal relevant factors that allowed their different choices and strategies with the method of oral history. Given the social changes that have occurred in women’s work and family relations during the economic development of Korea, an ordinary woman, Yoon Sung Yi’s lives have also been transformed. Social changes such as urban immigration, an opportunity of education, and the increased women’s economic participation and independence have paved the way for Ms. Yoon to differentiate her life from that of her mother’s generation. In this vein, this paper sheds light on the ways in which social structures such as patriarchy and capitalism have re/produced and re/constructed the gender relations among women, as well as between women and men. Based on exploring and interpreting Yoon’s experiences and memories under the specific contexts, it clearly illuminates that her enhanced ability and access to resources have improved her relationships with women who are traditionally presumed to be enemies. In this context, the analysis reveals the ways that a woman actor, Yoon, critically examined her situated contexts and negotiated her relationships and interactions. Yoon’s life stories show the mixed consequences and contradictions that existed in lived women’s experiences. By consistently reexamining and reevaluating the women’s experiences, contemporary feminists will gain greater insight into the changes and transformations of women’s lives and how these changes are relevant to social structures.
This paper explores the ways in which patriarchy and capitalism have created both changes and challenges in women’s lives. It particularly pays attention to women’s changing relationship with patriarchy to reveal relevant factors that allowed their different choices and strategies with the method of oral history. Given the social changes that have occurred in women’s work and family relations during the economic development of Korea, an ordinary woman, Yoon Sung Yi’s lives have also been transformed. Social changes such as urban immigration, an opportunity of education, and the increased women’s economic participation and independence have paved the way for Ms. Yoon to differentiate her life from that of her mother’s generation. In this vein, this paper sheds light on the ways in which social structures such as patriarchy and capitalism have re/produced and re/constructed the gender relations among women, as well as between women and men. Based on exploring and interpreting Yoon’s experiences and memories under the specific contexts, it clearly illuminates that her enhanced ability and access to resources have improved her relationships with women who are traditionally presumed to be enemies. In this context, the analysis reveals the ways that a woman actor, Yoon, critically examined her situated contexts and negotiated her relationships and interactions. Yoon’s life stories show the mixed consequences and contradictions that existed in lived women’s experiences. By consistently reexamining and reevaluating the women’s experiences, contemporary feminists will gain greater insight into the changes and transformations of women’s lives and how these changes are relevant to social structures.
