Female Korean Nursing Students Views toward Feminism

Korea is a strongly hierarchical Confucian society that within a social ideal focuses on “the greater good” rather than the individual. With the emphasis on saving face and maintaining stable social hierarchies, the study sought to understand female Korean nursing students' perceptions of feminism. A total of 97 young women responded to the mixedmethod study and the data showed that there were strongly mixed feelings toward feminism with even individuals who selfidentified as being feminist critiquing the validity of “man-hating ideologies” common in modern feminism. Overall, opinion responses showed strong support for equality of the sexes but strong disapproval of “toxic femininity” which dominate 3rd and 4th Wave feminism. Understanding of nurses' views toward feminism aids in discerning up-coming trends not only within society but also within the profession of nursing itself in Korea as well as other parts of East Asia