Cho Nam Joo - Tumblr Posts

"The world had changed a great deal, but the little rules, contracts and customs had not, which meant the world hadn't actually changed at all."

ㅡ Cho Namjoo, Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982 (2016)

Reading Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982 and I finally understand why it stirred so much controversy. If we all start talking about all the subtle ways misogyny has been rooted in our behaviours and thinkings; (we'll loose our sanity if we do that really) it's definitely gonna make people mad because in a world where people seem to ignore and stay silent on the obvious "bigger" acts of misogyny and sexism, they definitely aren't ready to have talks about the internalised and normalised misogyny. Heck they don't even think it exists.

Seriously I thought the wrapping up of menstrual pads in black poly bags and papers while selling it was an Indian society thing but turns out it isn't. Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982 is more relatable than I thought it would be.

I really love how Cho Namjoo chose to write Kim Jiyoung's character like a common woman (who every woman could relate to in their daily life) where one could easily invalidate her struggles with points like "but she had a normal and rather nice childhood albeit a little struggle but who doesn't struggle? She had such a nice and supporting husband and such nice colleagues and friends too. She didn't have to face serious abuses and so many people have it so much worse. She should've been grateful for having a rather easier life instead of complaining about everything." Because that is how people refuse to believe that normalised and internalised misogyny exists, that people will be extremely sexist and then validate it by sentences like "it's not like you were physically abused." like only physical abuse comes under misogyny and without it all of our struggles are invalid and exaggerated.

-Cho Namjoo, Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982 [tr. Jamie Chang]