Women in The Shadow of Ideology: Women's Rights in North Korea

Yıl 2025, Cilt: 26 Sayı: 1, 77 - 98, 28.06.2025

Aybala Lale Kahraman

https://doi.org/10.33831/jws.v26i1.517

Öz

Described as a 'closed box' in the international system, North Korea is characterized by a governing ideology that penetrates every aspect of life: Juche. Conceived as a philosophy of self-sufficiency, Juche helps North Korea maintain its authoritarian system. In this authoritarian and closed society, women are probably the most disadvantaged group. Indeed, North Korea is one of the world's worst human rights violators. The position of North Korean women, who were shaped as political actors, representatives of the revolution, and founding elements during the founding period of the country, has evolved in a completely different direction today. In the official discourse, women and mothers are used synonymously, but it is often stated that women should devote themselves entirely to the ideology and the leader's guidance. In addition to ideology, the hierarchical order of the Confucian system of thought that has influenced East Asian societies is also behind this idea. In these societies, a woman is obliged to obey her husband and is a mother. While the international community is preoccupied with the threat of North Korea becoming a nuclear power, the rights of North Korean women are ignored. The fact that the majority of North Koreans who defect today are women reveals the seriousness of the situation. This study examines how women's rights in North Korea are shaped within the framework of the Juche ideology. The study will focus on evaluating the discrepancy between the rights officially granted to women and how these rights are implemented in practice, while also analyzing the status of women under the influence of ideology. It aims to uncover the struggle of North Korean women, who are portrayed as integral to the socialist system, in their fight against oppression.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Women , Women's Rights , Human Rights , Juche Ideology , North Korea

İdeolojinin Gölgesinde Kadın: Kuzey Kore’de Kadın Hakları

Öz

Uluslararası sistemde ‘kapalı bir kutu’ olarak nitelendirilen Kuzey Kore’de hayatın her alanına sirayet eden bir yönetim ideolojisi hakimdir: Juche (주체). Bir kendine yeterlik felsefesi olarak kurgulanan Juche, Kuzey Kore’nin otoriter sistemini muhafaza etmesine destek olmaktadır. Bu otoriter ve kapalı toplum yapısında muhtemelen en dezavantajlı grubu kadınlar oluşturmaktadır. Nitekim, Kuzey Kore dünyanın en ağır insan hakları ihlallerinin gerçekleştiği ülkelerden biridir. Ülkenin kuruluş döneminde bir siyasi aktör, devrim temsilcisi ve kurucu unsur olarak şekillenen Kuzey Kore kadınının konumu, günümüzde bambaşka bir yöne evrilmiştir. Resmi söylemde kadın ve anne özdeş olarak kullanılmakla birlikte, kadınların kendilerini tümüyle ideolojinin ve liderin yönlendirmelerine adaması gerektiği sıklıkla ifade edilmektedir. Muhtemelen bu düşüncenin arka planında ideolojinin yanı sıra, Doğu Asya toplumlarını etkisi altına alan Konfüçyüsçü düşünce sisteminin hiyerarşik düzeninin de etkisi vardır. Zira, bu toplumlarda kadın, eşine itaat etmekle mükellef ve bir anne olarak varlık kazanmaktadır. Uluslararası toplum Kuzey Kore’nin nükleer güç sahibi olması tehdidiyle meşgulken, Kuzey Koreli kadınların hakları göz ardı edilmektedir. Günümüzde iltica eden Kuzey Korelilerin büyük bir kısmının kadın olması, durumun ciddiyetini gözler önüne sermektedir. Bu çalışmada, Kuzey Kore’de kadın haklarının Juche ideolojisi çerçevesinde nasıl şekillendiği incelenmektedir. Bilhassa kadınlara resmi olarak sağlanan haklar ile pratikteki uygulamaların farklılaşması ve ideoloji kıskacında kadının statüsü değerlendirilerek, sosyalist yapının bir parçası olarak sunulan Kuzey Koreli kadınların baskılarla mücadelesi ortaya konmaya çalışılacaktır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Kadın , Kadın Hakları , İnsan Hakları , Juche İdeolojisi , Kuzey Kore

Kaynakça

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