This paper aims to comprehend the evolving decisions of young women contributing to the ultra-low fertility trend confronting Korean society in the 21st century. It seeks to reassess the current state and challenges of labor and family structures emph...
This paper aims to comprehend the evolving decisions of young women contributing to the ultra-low fertility trend confronting Korean society in the 21st century. It seeks to reassess the current state and challenges of labor and family structures emphasizing their changes. By synthesizing recent interdisciplinary knowledge, along with data from both domestic and international sources, it offers a contextualized and multifaceted examination of women’s choices and their demographic repercussions, which have evolved from preceding generations.
A distinctive aspect of this paper lies in its exploration of the reconfiguration of gender disparities within the intricate landscape of evolving norms, institutions, and markets. It adopts an intersectional perspective, considering social class and gender dynamics, to scrutinize the phenomenon of ultra-low fertility in light of women’s choices amidst multiple transitions, and their demographic consequences.
The key insights drawn from this literature review can be outlined as follows: Firstly, the persistence of traditional gender norms in the workplace reinforces the burden on women, exacerbating their dual responsibilities. Secondly, the intricate shifts in the labor market, marked by precarious professionalization and polarization among women, within the context of industrial structural changes, stratify women’s demographic behavior concerning family formation based on their positions within the labor market. Thirdly, fragmented labor markets not only create blind spots in welfare provisions but also contribute to deepening disparities in demographic behavior.
These findings underscore the necessity for policies addressing the intersection of labor and family domains and evidence-based empirical research to inform the development of such policies.