Marriage Is Reality for Women

It`s not the Glass Ceiling, It`s the Sticky Floor

Written by Karen Engberg. Translated by Kim Mi-Jung

320 pages. 9,000 won. Chamsol.

The author says that marriage is mankind’s oldest convention, but it is one of the most unnatural conventions that mankind could ever imagine. Woman spends the most decisive and important years of life for taking care of `family`. In other words, husband and other family constituents grant the names of `wife` and `mother`, and demand sacrifice for the family instead.

This book is a story told by a doctor-mother, who raised 4 children, to her daughter about marriage, work, and child nursing. There are detailed advices about dating man before marriage, choosing life partner, selecting profession that can be life-long friend, and financial management.

Also, it counsels mothers that practical wisdom is needed for household work-share with husbands, childcare and education, management of household economy, and effective measures about family affairs. Marriage is not a dream, it is reality.

Mun-Myung Huh angelhuh@donga.com