View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by ETD - Electronic Theses & Dissertations FROM HEGEMONIC TO POST-PATRIARCHAL MANHOOD IN THE KOREAN CONTEXT: A THEOLOGICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL ANALYSIS By Myounghun Yun Dissertation Submitted to the Faculty of the Graduate School of Vanderbilt University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY in Religion August, 2016 Nashville, Tennessee Approved: Bonnie Miller-McLemore, Ph.D. Ellen Armour, Ph.D. Andre Christie-Mizell, Ph.D. Graham Reside, Ph.D. Bruce Rogers-Vaughn, Ph.D. Copyright © 2016 by Myounghun Yun All Rights Reserved ii To Soyoun, Yewon, Yeil and My Parents, Changyoon Yun and Kyungran Ko with Deep Respect and Love iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS While a completed dissertation bears the single name of the student, the process that leads to its completion is possible only in combination with the dedicated work and support of many people. The writing of this dissertation has been one of the most significant academic challenges I have ever had to face due to my multiple responsibilities. I would like to acknowledge the names of certain people who helped me to complete this work. First and foremost, I want to express my deepest gratitude to my advisor Dr. Bonnie Miller-McLemore. I would never have been able to finish my dissertation without her support, understanding, patience, and guidance for undertaking my research project. The joy and enthusiasm she has for her research, which led me to apply for Vanderbilt University, was contagious and motivational for me, even during tough times in the Ph.D. pursuit. Her thoughtful feedback and constructive criticism on my work has made my work stronger. I am thankful for the excellent example she has provided as a great theologian and parent. I also want to thank my dissertation committee---Dr. Ellen Armour, Dr. Andre Christie-Mizell, Dr. Graham Reside, and Dr. Bruce Rogers-Vaughn---for their willingness to join me in seeing this project through to completion. I appreciate their time, interest, and helpful comments. The Theology and Practice Program (T&P) has contributed immensely to my personal and professional time at Vanderbilt. T & P generously offered me a full tuition scholarship and stipends throughout my academic study and financial support for my externship teaching as a Lily Faculty Fellow at New Brunswick Theological Seminary in NJ. My deep gratitude goes to Dr. Jaco Haman, the director of T&P program, for his ongoing encouragement and support. His caring mentorship has been paramount in providing me with a great atmosphere at Vanderbilt. iv My T&P cohort has also been a source of friendships as well as good advice and collaboration. I want to thank Karen Eardley for her outstanding administrative assistance and service. I would also like to express my appreciation to other professors at Religion, Psychology, and Culture program---Dr. Volney Gay, Dr. Evon Flesberg, and Dr. Barbara McClure (who currently teaches at Brite Divinity School)---for teaching excellent courses. Special thanks also goes to my former professors at Yale Divinity School and Candler School of Theology---Dr. Kristen Leslie, Dr. Jan Holton, Dr. Karen Scheib, Dr. Emmanuel Lartey, Dr. Rex Matthews, and Dr. Don Saliers---for guiding and encouraging my academic career and research for the past several years. I am also gratefully indebted to my Professors at Yonsei University in Korea--- Dr. Youngkwon Yoo and Dr. Sukhwan Chung ---for inspiring and helping me to develop my background and interest in pastoral care and counseling in my undergraduate study. I wish to thank my friends at Vanderbilt. Special thanks to Laura Kreiselmaier, with whom I went through together each stage of the doctoral program, for her mutual support and prayer. Many thanks to Benjamin Anthony, who was always willing to help proofreading my writings and give his best suggestions. I have been truly enriched by their friendship. I also want to acknowledge Kent Kreiselmaier, Ira Hilderman, Richard Coble, Jon Stotts, Jessica Bratt, Peter Capretto, Laine Young, Kate Lassiter, and other RPC graduates for their friendship and help with the editing work. I also want to thank the faculty, staff, and students at New Brunswick Theological Seminary. Special thanks go to Dr. Raynard Smith for his mentoring and friendship. I am also very much indebted to the support, understanding, and prayer of the members of Asbury United Methodist Church in Woodstown NJ. With deep respect and love, I would also like to express my sincere gratitude to my parents---Kyungran Ko and Changyoon Yun---and my parents-in-law---Inja Chang and v Donghoon Suh--for their tremendous love, support, and prayer. They encouraged me at every point in this process. My last word of acknowledgement goes to my wife, Soyoun Suh, and my children, Yewon (Emma) and Yeil (Nathan). During this stressful and challenging journey they made me laugh and gave me strength to continue my work. They stood by me through the good and bad times, cheering me up. They put confidence in me even when I was not so sure about myself. My doctoral study would not have been possible without their unwavering love, sacrifice, and support in every possible way. Above all, I owe it all to God for granting me the wisdom, health, and strength to undertake this research project and enabling me to its completion. vi TABLE OF CONTENTS Page DEDICATION------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENT----------------------------------------------------------------------------- iv INTRODUCTION----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1 Introduction----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1 Literature Review---------------------------------------------------------------------------------4 Religion and Masculinity in the New Men’s Studies-------------------------------4 Pastoral Theology on Men and Masculinities ---------------------------------------7 Argument of the Project-------------------------------------------------------------------------15 Methodological Foundations for Studying Masculinity ----------------------------------- 18 Feminist Pastoral Theological Methods ------------------------------------------------- 21 Definition of the Key Terms--------------------------------------------------------------------23 Masculinity ------------------------------------------------------------------------------23 Hegemonic Masculinity----------------------------------------------------------------25 Overview of the Chapters-----------------------------------------------------------------------28 Significance of the Project----------------------------------------------------------------------32 I. DESCRIPTION OF CONTEXTS CHAPTER 1. MASCULINITY TROUBLE (?): SHIFTING VISIONS OF KOREAN HEGEMONIC MASCULINITY Introduction --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------35 Hegemonic Masculinity as a System--------------------------------------------------------- 36 Hegemonic Masculinity in the Korean Context: Shifting Visions------------------------40 Seonbi Masculinity as Dominant Masculinity in Premodern Period------------ 40 The Configuration of Seonbi Masculinity in the Confucian Family and Social Systems----------------------------------------------------------43 Self-Cultivation as the Formation of Dominant Masculinity------------46 Taejangbu as a New Dominant Vision of Manhood in the Early Modern and Colonial Period ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 49 Militarized Masculinity in Post-Colonial Period-----------------------------------58 Recent Trends: Caring Breadwinner as a Neoliberal Masculinity---------------64 Masculinity Trouble (?): Discourses on a Crisis in Masculinity or Crisis of Men-----68 vii Crisis in Masculinity as a Loss of “Real” or “True” Masculinity ----------------- 70 Crisis in Masculinity as Gender Role Discrepancy, Trauma, and Conflict -------73 Crisis in Masculinity as Shift in or Challenge to Patriarchal Power and Privilege ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 76 Conclusion ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 78 II. THEORIES: CRITICAL ANALYSES 2. IMAGES OF MEN AND MASCULINITIES IN ASIAN/KOREAN FEMINIST THEOLOGY: CONSTRUCTING A THEOLOGICAL BASIS FOR RETHINKING MASCULINITIES Introduction-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------81 The Significance of Image------------------------------------------------------------------------84 Images of Men and Masculinities in Asian/Korean Feminist Theology---------- 87 Men as Domestic Masters------------------------------------------------------ 88 Men as Victims: Drunken Frenzy and Han-saturated Beings--------------89 Men as Decentered Bystanders: The Decentered Sun---------------------- 91 Men as Participants in Women’s Liberation and Mutual Liberators------93 Implications-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------96 Clarifying Assumptions about Key Concepts------------------------------------------ 96 Embodying Three Movements of Criticality as a Methodological Basis----------98 Calling for More Constructive Pastoral Theological Work for Asian Men-------101 Conclusion------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------103