근대 초기 도시가족 구성에서 보이는 여성의 존재와 경계 －光武 7년 漢城府 戶籍에 기재된 여성호주를 중심으로－

Abstract

This study focused on 176 female heads of households indicated on the Hanseong-bu family census register in the 7th Gwangmu year(1903). At that time, female heads of households substituted the male heads of households prevalent under the Confucian patriarchal system and clan rule-based family order system, and existed in the boundary between stereotyped roles of men and those of women in families. Thus, this study was intended to examine the patterns of female head of households and roles of women in the urban families during the early modern period by analyzing the characteristics and nature of those female heads of households. To obtain such objectives of this study, we analyzed the personal information and family circumstances of the 176 female heads of households indicated on the Hanseong-bu family census register in 1903. The results showed that the female heads of households then took the practical roles as heads of families and that various characteristics of the families led by female heads of households enabled those families to continue to exist. The female heads of households exhibited disparate characteristics in terms of the patterns and characteristics of their residence, depending on regional difference inside and outside Hangseong-bu. They had occupations and participated in production activities or could use their financial ability to protect their family members, thus playing the role of heads of families, beyond the temporary role arising from absence of men. Moreover, the families led by female heads of households were not merely the type of families that came into existence or disappeared due to presence or absence of men. The female heads of households attempted to preserve and maintain their original families based on formation of new family relationship accommodating to various situations such as family characteristics, personal changes in family members, relocation of residence, etc., under the new family census register laws of that period.