Feminine Values, Patriarchy, and the Struggle for Gender Equality in Kim Ji-young: Born 1982: A Cultural Feminist Analysis

Abstract

Kim Ji-young: Born 1982 represents the experiences of women navigating patriarchal gender norms in contemporary South Korean society. This study aims to examine how feminine values like empathy, patience, emotional resilience, and self-awareness help women achieve gender equality. A descriptive qualitative method was employed to analyse selected scenes and dialogues using concepts derived from Sally J. Scholz’s cultural feminism. The primary data were collected from the film’s visual narratives and dialogues. The secondary data were obtained from previous studies on cultural feminism and the socio-cultural context of South Korea. The findings show that patriarchal structures within the family, workplace, and the public sphere position women in subordinate roles while simultaneously encouraging forms of emotional and symbolic resistance. Instead of being perceived as a sign of fragility, feminine values are presented as a symbol of moral strength that allows the main character to keep her identity and dignity as a woman. These findings suggest that, within the film, feminine values function as sources of strength for the main character while navigating patriarchal gender norms.