Gender Roles In Confucians

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The further question of ethics is challenged by the two different gender distinctions, the yin-yang correlation. Yin is associated with passiveness, weakness and females, while yang is associated with strength, activeness and males. Initially, the Yin-Yang relation was a cosmic idea of harmony, but over the years Chinese Confucians dictated that this relation refers to the two genders, hence creating a hierarchical relationship between men and women. This gender binary is still associated with this very day, creating a patriarchal advantage over women in the modern day field of work and general society. This notion of women being ‘yin’, frail and delicate had them controlled in regard to their bodies and sexuality throughout their lives. The Confucians emphasize the woman’s …show more content…
Thus, showing sexual bias towards men who had unlimited sexual freedom in their lives. Traditionally speaking with reference to Confucianism, rape was considered a crime to the family’s honour. Korean women were lectured that the only way to prevent this dishonour was to commit suicide, and this mentality has stuck throughout the years up to this very day. An example of this took place in 1991 when a 30-year-old woman who was raped committed suicide by diving from her apartment. The social stigma regarding rape is connected to the chastity ideology that is prevalent in Korea since the empowerment of Confucianism during the Joseon Dynasty in order to keep the paternal lineage pure in the patriarchal system. This is highly unethical in today’s world, especially since mental health is a key factor in the development of individuals. According to the Ministry of Health & Welfare (2011), the lifetime prevalence rate for mental health diseases in Korea is 27.6 %, that is almost a third of the population of Korea. This issue cannot be ignored, yet the antiquated Confucian mentality is still an underlying pinnacle of the issue of mental health, which is out of touch with people in the 21st