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Motives, Means, and Belonging in a Strange Land: Female International Students Navigating a Racially and Ethnically Homogeneous Korean Society

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  • Seohyun Kim

    (Department of Social Welfare, Jeonbuk National University, 567, Baekje-daero, Deokjin-gu, Jeonju-si, Jeollabuk-do 54896, Korea)

  • Israel Fisseha Feyissa

    (School of Global Studies, Kyungsung University, 309, Suyeong-ro, Nam-gu, Busan 48434, Korea)

Abstract

Using Mandelbaum’s (1973) life history analysis framework, this study analyzed the intersection of female experience, social wellbeing, gender role, and the cost of migration as a female international student in an ethnically homogenous and ethnical nationalist host country, South Korea. A cross-cultural comparison also followed to understand factors affecting belongingness and the ability to incorporate. As a result, immigrant life course dimensions are affected by extremities of cultural nearness or distance, cultural fluency or disfluency, positive cultural experience, intense ethnic and cultural contact, and the existence of a diaspora. The emigration to Korea and structural systems significantly turn the female immigrants’ course of life. Adaptation and belongingness are also affected by a desire for an abundant “Korean” cultural experience, rare cultural contact, code-switching, or indifference for a cultural experience. A comparative look at the experiences also produced common and different patterns based on the cultural origin of the students. Overall, the distinct ethnic characteristics of Korea as a host not only created a demanding assimilation (a strong pull to Korean ethnic identity assumed roles) but it also brought a unique and transforming female and belongingness experience. As migration may redirect or reward female gender roles, this study points to a proper discussion to understand the relativity of female experience within a distinctive and culturally demanding host country.

Suggested Citation

  • Seohyun Kim & Israel Fisseha Feyissa, 2022. "Motives, Means, and Belonging in a Strange Land: Female International Students Navigating a Racially and Ethnically Homogeneous Korean Society," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-18, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:4:p:2027-:d:746526
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