19세기말 조선의 안방을 찾은 미국 여성의 욕망 ― 여선교사 릴리어스 호튼 언더우드(Lillias Horton Underwood)를 중심으로 ―

Abstract

Previous research on women missionaries in Chosun has been focused on how they influenced Chosun women, and overlooked their peculiar lifestyle in Chosun. Women missionaries in Chosun were isolated people in the late 19th‐century U.S., staying in the marginal area legally and politically. In Chosun, however, they were given a privileged status by cultural chauvinism and satisfied their desire, namely, self‐realization through the development of abilities and social participation. Only when these parts are included, we can approach closer the identity of women missionaries in Chosun. From this viewpoint, this study analyzed how women missionaries in Chosun implemented their desires and what the mechanism of the implementation was using writings left by woman missionary Lillias Underwood and her social activities. In the late 19th‐century American society, a woman with a medical license could not play a role more than assisting male physicians. In Chosun, however, Lillias Underwood could run her own clinic with the title of medical doctor. After all, she could develop her abilities and have an identity as an individual because she emphasized continuously that American women missionaries were indispensible to Chosun women. Moreover, she did not think that American women did not share oppression under the patriarchal system with Chosun women. As they defined themselves to be superior to and more advanced than Chosun women, it was impossible from the beginning for them to understand and sympathize with Chosun women. Rather, they could satisfy their desires by emphasizing difference from Chosun women. After all, Lillias Underwood emphasized that everybody is equal before God, but she was not free from cultural chauvinism as an American. Rather, using her privileges, she could restore her identity as an individual.