The Glorification of 'Scientific Motherhood' as an Ideological Construct in Modern Korea

Abstract

This study analyzes how the ideology of scientific motherhood has been constructed in the process of modernization and what effect it has had on women's lives in Korea, from 1945 to the present. The nature of scientific advice on childcare has changed over time and the depiction of the mother's role has varied. In this study we identify three patterns in scientific motherhood: the wise mother, the competitive mother, and the "pro mother." Each pattern differs in its distinctive emphasis on the maternal role, that is, the patterns vary according to whether they emphasize hygiene and discipline, competence in managing children's education, and mothers' consumption of commercialized knowledge.