Abstract
The inception of bottom-up marketization in North Korea has had an ambivalent relationship with the state. A consequence of such is the feminization of the market, as North Korean women have shouldered the dual burden of housework and bread-winning. Scholars in the past have studied the impact of these social changes on family life, gender equality, and the potential for collective action. Most have been hopeful of women’s positions vis-a-vis the state, despite refugee reports on the commonality of violence against women and dismissal from state support. This paper builds off past scholarship to create an alternative view of market feminization; one positioned in attempts by the state to consolidate power, extract rents, and further the marginalization of women. It uses analysis of DPRK’s legislation and rhetoric, refugee interviews, and changes in political and economic stability over time to elucidate the relationship between women, the economy, and the state. Findings suggest tacit state acceptance of the market are higher in periods of state instability. The implications on women’s position in the DPRK are discussed in terms of social mobility and institutional support.
Presenters
Alisson RowlandStudent/TA, Political Science, University of California, Irvine, United States
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
Vectors of Society and Culture
KEYWORDS
Gender, North Korea, Informal Economy, State Violence
