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Abstract
The purpose of this study was to understand the work identity and the underemployed experiences of Korean Millennial women. Three research questions guided this study:1. What are the job experiences of Korean Millennial women who are undergoing chronic underemployment?
2. How do underemployed Korean Millennial women describe their job trajectory?
3. What are underemployed Korean Millennial women’s expectations about obtaining good-quality jobs?
Using a feminist methodology, qualitative feminist interviews were conducted with ten Korean Millennial women who self-identified as well-educated but underemployed. Snowball sampling was used for selecting participants and purposive sampling determined the final study participants. Interviews were conducted via phone; online chat was also used to establish rapport.
The data analysis revealed three significant conclusions: 1) the job experiences of Korean Millennial women who are undergoing chronic underemployment is influenced by the cultural construction of gender role expectations held in Korean society relative to women and their acceptable societal positions; 2) Korean Millennial women’s job trajectories are portrayed as existing encumbrances that are created and constantly shaped by gender-specific jobs; and 3) Korean Millennial women’s job expectations develop in a state of instability, as the women actively attempt to bridge the societal gaps between what is considered acceptable for women in the job market and the jobs that they want to pursue.
This study has two major implications for the theory and practice in relation to the existing literature on Korean Millennial working women. The findings of the study illuminate the endemic issues about the systemic power structure and social cultural contexts including the patriarchal system, Confucianism, and gender stereotypes that are deeply rooted in Asia and Korea. The implications for practices address the importance of reforming policy on women’s career and Human Resources Development (HRD) and future methodological approaches to fully utilize women’s work abilities.