Scan barcode
A review by midnightbookmusings
Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982 by Cho Nam-joo
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This remains the most depressing book I ever read, even at the second read. Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982 as one of the most popular feminist literature is an amazing, and meticulously well-researched case study on the blights of women in South Korea.
Formatted in a detached third person point of view, it tells the story of the life of Kim Jiyoung, an average Korean woman. "Average" here isn't meant to be an insult to Jiyoung whom readers will find to be a perfectly loveable and relatable protagonist but rather an indication of how common Jiyoung's experience of dealing with misogyny and sexism is.
Despite growing up in a more open and changing South Korean society, Jiyoung feels the effects of sexism, from her grandmother's outward favoritism for her younger brother to realizing how much her mother has given up (her schooling and her dream career), to the arbitrary rules plaguing her student life, her college years and into working life, and eventually marriage and motherhood. What pains me the most about Jiyoung's story is how stifling the chokehold of misogyny feels. Even from those who suffer under misogyny, even those who aware of the sexism and strive to be better, the underlying of sexism is still there. (When her teacher tries to justify away the torment Jiyoung suffers under a classmate instead of heeding the girl's request to allow her to change seat assignment, when her mother advises Jiyoung's sister to a more traditional and womanly career as a school teacher, when her husband, despite his seemingly understanding attitude still fails to truly understand and empathize with Jiyoung's struggles beyond paying lip service).
That is the most depressing thing for Jiyoung's experience shows us the ugly truth: how pervasive this cancerous sexism is in society. Even the ending, where it is revealed that the entire book is a case file of a sympathetic psychiatrist on Jiyoung's diagnosis proves to be a downer when it is shown that he is incapable to realizing his own implicit bias against women.
Gods, it is so bleak. The book makes me so sad, even more so now given the state of the rise of antifeminism in South Korea.
Still, it is a very necessary and wonderful read. I will never not recommend this book, no matter how depressed it makes me.
Formatted in a detached third person point of view, it tells the story of the life of Kim Jiyoung, an average Korean woman. "Average" here isn't meant to be an insult to Jiyoung whom readers will find to be a perfectly loveable and relatable protagonist but rather an indication of how common Jiyoung's experience of dealing with misogyny and sexism is.
Despite growing up in a more open and changing South Korean society, Jiyoung feels the effects of sexism, from her grandmother's outward favoritism for her younger brother to realizing how much her mother has given up (her schooling and her dream career), to the arbitrary rules plaguing her student life, her college years and into working life, and eventually marriage and motherhood. What pains me the most about Jiyoung's story is how stifling the chokehold of misogyny feels. Even from those who suffer under misogyny, even those who aware of the sexism and strive to be better, the underlying of sexism is still there. (When her teacher tries to justify away the torment Jiyoung suffers under a classmate instead of heeding the girl's request to allow her to change seat assignment, when her mother advises Jiyoung's sister to a more traditional and womanly career as a school teacher, when her husband, despite his seemingly understanding attitude still fails to truly understand and empathize with Jiyoung's struggles beyond paying lip service).
That is the most depressing thing for Jiyoung's experience shows us the ugly truth: how pervasive this cancerous sexism is in society. Even the ending, where it is revealed that the entire book is a case file of a sympathetic psychiatrist on Jiyoung's diagnosis proves to be a downer when it is shown that he is incapable to realizing his own implicit bias against women.
Gods, it is so bleak. The book makes me so sad, even more so now given the state of the rise of antifeminism in South Korea.
Still, it is a very necessary and wonderful read. I will never not recommend this book, no matter how depressed it makes me.