Most of the writers presented are recognized literary figures, but some are lesser-known voices. The stories are arranged in chronological order, from the earliest work by Korea’s first modern woman writer in 1917 to stories that appeared in 1995-approximately one from each decade. Still others reveal the abrupt awakening to mid-life crises and the seasoned wisdom that comes with accepting the limits of old age. Some of the stories celebrate the central character’s breakaway from the patriarchal order others expose sexual inequality and highlight the struggle for personal autonomy and dignity. They are compelled to ask themselves “Who am I?” “Where am I going?” “What are my choices?” Each story bears colorful and compelling testimony to the life of the heroine. Their personal dreams and values have been compromised by gender expectations or their own illusions about female existence. All of the protagonists are women who face personal crises or defining moments in their lives as gender-marked beings in a Confucian, patriarchal Korean society. In English, the ten short stories by modern Korean women collected here touch in one way or another on issues related to gender and kinship politics. Korean literature HAWAI‘I STUDIES ON KOREA
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