Korea YWCA, Addressing the Gender Pay Gap through Dance
The Korea YWCA Federation celebrated May 6, 2020 as “Equal Pay Day”. In
celebration, the federation started an accessible, online campaign during COVID-19
called the “2020 Equal Pay Day Dance Challenge”. Official branches of the YWCA and
28 associated facilities participated in the challenge via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter,
Blogs, and other social media applications from May 6th to 13th.
South Korea’s gender pay gap stands at 34.1%, which is the worst among OECD nations. This means that a man will receive 1 million won while a woman receives 650,000 won for the same amount of working days. If we calculate this difference for an entire year, a woman will additionally have to work 1 year and about 5 to 6 months (84 days) in order to receive the same amount of pay as a man.
| ※ Equal Pay Day Calculation Method: Gender Wage Gap (34.1%) × 2019 Working Days (247 Days) = Additional Working Days (84 Days) = Equal Pay Day (May 6th) |
Despite the longstanding fight against the gender pay gap in South Korea, the movement towards an equitable solution has been slow. The Korea YWCA Federation seeks to raise awareness regarding the gender pay gap and urge society to create a sustainable solution.
Activists of the Korea YWCA Federation filmed and shared choreography for this challenge through YouTube and official social media accounts. Local YWCA offices used this choreography as a template to create a variety of performances addressing resolutions to the gender pay gap, which were shared through Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube. Moreover, the performers coordinated with a red dress code to symbolize the female wage deficit.
Through this opportunity, the Korea YWCA aided the movement of solving the gender pay gap through a dance challenge that everyone can easily participate in. Moreover, the 21st National Assembly, major political parties and the president were mentioned using hashtags in order to create awareness about the gender pay gap.
Stereotypes and gender discrimination ingrained in South Korean society are sustaining the gender pay gap. Across the labor market, females are discriminated during job recruitment, placement, to promotion. Moreover, they are often excluded from major projects and are evaluated unfairly.
The Korea YWCA has been campaigning “Equal Pay Day” since 2014 to raise awareness about the gender pay gap. The severity of discriminatory wages for females was publicized through a variety of events and campaigns in tandem with related ministries. Such actions raised society’s awareness about the “Equal Value Labor, Equal Wage Principle”.
Furthermore, 53 members of various YWCA branches and related activists participated in an “Equal Pay Day Workshop” via the online platform, ZOOM, on the day that marked the end of the “2020 Equal Pay Day Dance Challenge”. 65 staff members across the country participated in lectures about “The Meaning and Challenges of the Equal Pay Day Movement” and “The Status of the Gender Wage Gap”.
(Geoje, Namyangju, Daejeon, Donghae, Masan, Mokpo, Busan
(Haeundae Women’s Human Resource Development Center), Seogwipo, Sejong
(Education Cooperative, Bbang Bbang Theater Education and Research Center), Suwon,
Ulsan, Uijeongbu, Iksan, Incheon, Jeonju, Jinhae, Changwon, Cheonan, Cheongju,
Chuncheon, Chungbuk Women’s Human Resource Development Center, Choongju, Paju,
Pohang, and Hanam)
▼ Watch the “2020 Equal Pay Day Dance”
– Geoje YWCA https://youtu.be/qHteQmIq160
– Namyangju YWCA https://youtu.be/d7qzSsT8Y0o
– Daejeon YWCA https://youtu.be/Siu8uBYBDXc
– Donghae YWCA https://youtu.be/qxSqsqn290E
– Masan YWCA https://youtu.be/iz_fI9qZnGU
– Mokpo YWCA https://youtu.be/zuSxdL_XASg
– Busan YWCA(해운대여성인력개발센터) http://bitly.kr/UHUQE7ATnu
– Seogwipo YWCA https://youtu.be/78H9yu_TMH0
– Sejong YWCA (Education Cooperative) https://youtu.be/QfFL1CLLMsU
– Sejong YWCA (Bbang Bbang Theater Education and Research Center)
– Suwon YWCA http://bitly.kr/caUozcLDC
– Suncheon YWCA https://youtu.be/fX2s_JeznYA
– Ulsan YWCA https://youtu.be/3YIsbaKNBRc
– Uijeongbu YWCA https://youtu.be/WUsoyTmg_nY
– Iksan YWCA https://youtu.be/EhsoPtbd9os
– Incheon YWCA https://youtu.be/-kTI8LUWqZo
– Jeonju YWCA https://youtu.be/9R4S1YL5xO4
– Jinju YWCA https://youtu.be/M9UgliZW3pQ
– Jinhae YWCA https://youtu.be/6P3WcnM04MU, https://youtu.be/A7KaFuYZ_3g
– Changwon YWCA https://youtu.be/v3qEmOBUuQA
– CheonanYWCA https://youtu.be/P_lzN9cI9x4
– Cheongju YWCA https://youtu.be/gCenLlp6iUw
– Cheongju YWCA(Chungbuk Women’s Human Resource Development Center)
– Chuncheon YWCA
http://blog.daum.net/chchywca/24, https://youtu.be/5pLp0MfGrKk
– Choongju YWCA https://youtu.be/dDa-6pAjbQ8
– Paju YWCA https://youtu.be/jmjBCFnO8bw
– Pohang YWCA https://youtu.be/QiGWIpuD_9Q
– Hanam YWCA https://youtu.be/Jt5DEf7DDvs
