The Process of Westernization: Adoption of Western-Style Dress by Korean Women,1945-1962

Abstract

This paper details the process of Korean women's abandoning traditional dress and its accessories for the more functional western dress. We analyzed the reported reactions of a sample of Korean women to their experiences during the acculturation period from 1945 to 1962. The 21 women selected for interviews had lived in Korea through the acculturation period and were now living in the United States.

The findings generated from this study of Korean women's adoption of western-style dress during the acculturation period revolve around the variables of age and education, physical and psychological comfort, body image, societal and peer pressures, and clothing symbolism as ethnic identity makers. This exploratory study using acculturation as a framework for understanding the different reactions of Korean women showed that change has been dramatic and relatively swift, influenced by two major factors: age and educational background The adoption of western clothing by Korean women reflects their acceptance of this new cultural milieu.

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