International Journal of

Arts , Humanities & Social Science

ISSN 2693-2547 (Print) , ISSN 2693-2555 (Online)
DOI: 10.56734/ijahss
Married Korean Professional Women with Children in the U.S. and in Korea: A Mix of Occupational & Immigrant Status

Abstract


This qualitative research examined Korean professional women’s work and family experience in Korea and in the U.S. Fourteen in-depth interviews were conducted; seven Korean immigrant women with children in the U.S. and seven Korean women with children in Korea. Immigrant status and occupational status are anchored to examine (a) how Korean women with children in a profession perceive their accumulated roles (i.e., conflict or enrichment); (b) how professional women’s work influences families and vice versa; and (c) how work-family experiences are different in the U.S. and in Korea. The effort to keep work-family balance and challenges, work environment differences between U.S. and Korea, language barriers, women’s self-confidence, and feeling of wholeness emerged as central themes. Work-family policies will be discussed.