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A Study on The Emergence of Terms for Female Body, and Changes in Perspectives - with focus on female words such as pregnancy, delivery, and womb.

  • The Sociolinguistic Journal of Korea
  • Abbr : 사회언어학
  • 2012, 20(2), pp.425-446
  • Publisher : The Sociolinguistic Society Of Korea
  • Research Area : Humanities > Linguistics

Nammin Cho 1

1한국기술교육대학교

Accredited

ABSTRACT

This research studies emergence and changes of female words, especially about pregnancy, delivery, and womb, through analysis of medical books and female literature in Chosun dynasty and modern enlightenment era. It studies how females recognized their bodies and gender differently from Chosun dynasty’s patriarchal system to rapidly changing modern enlightenment period. Birth (and delivery) is one of the indispensable steps of human life, and the whole process of pregnancy and delivery is closely related to pregnant mother. Through pregnancy and delivery, infants and mothers attain new social status, and, at the same time, experience significant changes in family relationship. As a consequence, while related literatures such as medical books published in Chosun dynasty were focused on being pregnant and delivering infant, those published in modern era paid more attention to pregnant mothers’ body and health. It was thanks to the import of western medicine and enhanced scientific understanding of pregnancy and delivery. More frequent mention about female health and body were found in modern female and family literature, and it was found that perspective on and understanding about pregnancy, delivery, and infant care were changed. It was the results of changes in social and cultural understanding of females given that perception on bodies are developed and defined in social and cultural ways.

Citation status

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