Antii uses a recent piece in the Hani on ajummas against impeachment as a springboard to discuss some pretty interesting stuff on the sociology of ajummaness:
Leaving the issue on impeachment aside (see Oranckay for more) or Hankyoreh’s take on the matter (reporting on what’s beneficial for pres. Noh and “Uri” party), I’m paying attention to the use of ajumma here. There’s the idea of political uninterest and immaturity (but also mobilizability at the time of elections) associated with “auntie”; they just talk about the things mentioned above, while the formally important matters are left for men. (See the Hankyoreh intention: the impeachment is so outrageous that even aunties are against it.)
Calling oneself ajumma - there’s for example the site azoomma.com - does not necessarily mean acknowledging that one is ignorant of politics and so on, but it can also be used as kind of a way to get recognition based on “Korean values” of being able to relate to others, feel jeong and so on, especially compared to samonim. (That means literally “teacher’s wife”, but is widely used for “high people’s” wifes. (Note that this is how things are told to be (represented), not necessarily how they are.)
Read the rest on your own.
2 Comments
“Azoomma”? interesting.
I’ve never quite understood the use of “z” instead of “j” in Korean romanization. Stwange bwew. I can only guess that it’s a strategy that makes sense to a Korean who’s already prone to pronounce “z” as “j,” but it makes no sense from the perspective of a native English-speaker. Hmmm. Fascinating, Captain.
Kevn
Yes, I just spelled my own name wrong. Thank you. Thank you, everyone. I’ll be here all week.
Keviiiiiiiin