1920～30년대 서비스직 여성의 노동실태와 사회적 위상

Abstract

Woman’s working is important part of the study of women histoy in modern age of Korea which research on woman’s social activity. In the Japanese Colonial Period, almost women were at the plow tail, but Accrding to rising a industry and commerce working field was increasingly gearing up so that woman could break into working field at that time, being attract attention a new service job became types of woman’s employment. This study is examined a background of penetration of Korean women service employees, characteristis of working, types of working conditions, social recognition of women. The background of women’s active employ activity was increasing of educated women and growing of their knowledge. At that time, women’s employ activity was regarded as an opportunity in achieving self-realization and improvement of social position. Another reason was increasing demand of women labor from developed industrial society. Especially in service industry, employers thought that women were more appropriate for their business based on kindness and interpersonal service. The 1920~1930’s employ activity of women, especially at the service industry, has two notable features. First, the women’s working population in service industry was closed at the downtown and most of the women were unmarried. In Japanese colonial period, most of the industry was located in the downtown; on account of this situation, most of women’s working area was developed at the downtown. Second, although the 1920’s the Great depression caused much unemployment, service industry which was almost comprised of women always recorded the high competitive rate. It means that there were not enough opportunities despite of great demand for work. Most of the women who were working in the service industry had graduated from girl’s school. They were the intellectuals who had entered a workplace through an examination. In comparison with professional women, however there was a sharp difference in working time, a salary and quality of labor. Also mental suffering from interpersonal service, sexual harassment and hiring standard -based on appearance- became obstacles to improving women’s social position. Particularly house maid, on the other side of high employment rate, there was stern reality of life of Korean women who had lost their land and come to the city and become ‘Joseon Ermum’. However, the entry of women in service industry was very meaningful fact because they open up a new field and it means the area of entry of women in public affairs was broadened and opened up.