조선시대 ‘독녀(獨女)’의 범주:‘온전치 못한’ 여자의 위치

Abstract

Doknyeo(solitude women) to women with neither husband nor children. They were placed on the opposite side of the “normal” women - with husband and children - in the Joseon society. They were different from either widow(Gwa-bu), women without husband but with children, or young single women(Cheo-nyeo), women not yet married. Also, they were different from orphan(Go-a) since they were adults. They were absolutely alone with no parent-child or conjugal relations. They were placed outside the boundary of female norms. Unlike men, it was problematic for women to be alone as the Joseon society put an emphasis on Samjongjido(three subordinations of women). Doknyeo were regarded pitiful, uneasy, and dangerous. They were prioritized in relief policies and exempted from paying tax. Though Doknyeo was one of the four categories of Hwan-gwa-go-dok(widower, widow, orphan, solitude), rarely was she discussed alongside other three categories (widower, widow, and orphan). Rather, she was tied up with the blind, the handicapped, or beggars under the name of Bulseongin(impaired beings) or deviants. She was placed at the bottom of the social hierarchy. The state of Joseon intended to anchor women in the normative frame of Samjongjido. Doknyeo, who existed ambiguously outside the boundary of Samjongjido, received special management and attention by the state.