A Psychological Approach to Gendered Attitudes during COVID-19 in South Korea

• In Event: Comparative Analyses of Gender and the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

How did the COVID-19 pandemic impact attitudes on gender equality? Why are some people more likely to negatively perceive gender equality as a result of the pandemic than others? In this study, we argue that the pandemic has significantly, and negatively, affected people’s attitudes on gender equality and their patterns of policy support. We use realistic group conflict theory and social identity theory to suggest that the pandemic’s adverse impact on the overall job opportunities resulted in a lack of available resources, which in turn created a competitive zero-sum framework between women and men. This salience in the distinction between “us” versus “them” can ultimately lead to individuals’ support on gender- and labor-related policies. We examine this in the case of South Korea, a democratic country that experienced both initial successes in containing COVID-19 and high levels of gender inequality. Using an original dataset and semi-structured interviews, we find that the gender divide has grown significantly and gendered attitudes have increased through this perception of outgroup threat. Moreover, our survey experiment shows that respondents are less willing to support employment opportunities for women when they see the rising number of job losses in the country. These findings indicate that the pandemic may have long-term consequences for women in South Korea and beyond.

Authors

• Phoebe W. Moon, Mercer University

• Hannah June Kim, University of Nebraska, Omaha