Gender equality is not zero-sum game between men and women 양성평등은 제로섬게임이아님

[김우정]

양성평등에 관한 이정심 UN여성서울사무소장과의 인터뷰 기사입니다.

그녀의 말대로 양성평등을 남녀간의 제로섬게임으로 보아서는 안됩니다.

우리나라 기업의 여성관리직 비율은 15%로 세계평균 31%의 반 정도 입니다.

양성평등문제 해결이 우리나라가 G7으로 가기위한 선결과제입니다.

'Gender equality is not zero-sum game between men and women'
'양성평등은 남녀간의 제로섬 게임이 아니다'

Editor’s note
This article is the fourth in The Korea Times' 2024 series focusing on diversity, inclusiveness and equality. — ED.
편집자주
이 기사는 코리아 타임즈의 2024년 시리즈에서 다양성, 포괄성, 평등에 초점을 맞춘 네 번째 기사이다. - 편집국

By Lee Hyo-jin 이효진 기자
Posted : 2024-03-07 14:45 Updated : 2024-03-07 17:07
Korea Times

Lee Jeong-shim, director of the U.N. Women Centre of Excellence for Gender Equality, poses at her office in Seoul, Feb. 28. Courtesy of U.N. Women Centre of Excellence for Gender Equality 2월 28일, 이정심 유엔여성평등센터 소장이 서울에 있는 그녀의 사무실에서 포즈를 취하고 있다. 유엔여성평등센터 제공

Chief of UN Women Seoul office urges continued efforts for gender equality
유엔 여성 서울사무소장, 양성평등을 위한 지속적인 노력 촉구

Over the past few decades, Korea has witnessed significant strides in the status of women, establishing pathways toward gender equality through basic laws, challenging the nation's predominantly patriarchal culture.
지난 수십 년간 한국은 여성의 지위가 크게 향상됨에 따라 기본법을 통해 양성평등의 길을 열어 가부장적인 문화에 도전하게 되었다.

With such progress, some argue that there may be no need for specific efforts toward gender equality.
이와 같은 진전으로 양성평등을 위한 구체적인 노력이 필요 없을 수 있다는 주장도 있다.

However, Lee Jeong-shim, director of U.N. Women Excellence for Gender Equality in Seoul, holds a different view. Such progress does not imply the absence of challenges, she said, calling for specific efforts and continued focus on gender equality to address remaining inequalities.
그러나, 유엔 여성 평등 이사인 이정심씨는 다른 견해를 가지고 있다. 그러한 진전이 도전의 부재를 의미하는 것은 아니며, 남아있는 불평등을 해결하기 위한 성평등에 대한 구체적인 노력과 지속적인 집중을 요구한다고 그녀는 말했다.

"Even in countries globally recognized for having the highest status of women, such as Finland and Sweden, gender equality is considered one of the main national challenges and agendas. This is because it is clear that no country has achieved full gender equality worldwide, according to U.N. data," she said during a recent written interview with The Korea Times on the occasion of International Women's Day, which falls on Friday.
"핀란드나 스웨덴과 같이 세계적으로 여성의 지위가 가장 높은 것으로 인정받는 국가에서도 성평등은 주요 국가적 도전이자 의제 중 하나로 간주된. 유엔자료에 따르면 전 세계적으로 완전한 성평등을 달성한 국가는 없다는 것이 분명하기 때문이다."라고 그는 최근 코리아 타임즈와 금요일에 해당하는 국제 여성의 날을 맞아 서면 인터뷰를 하면서 말했다.

This marks her first interview with local media since she assumed the role in September 2022 with the launch of the U.N. Women office in Seoul. The organization is the first U.N. agency in Korea dedicated to gender equality and women's empowerment.
이는 그녀가 2022년 9월 서울에 유엔 여성사무소를 설립하면서 그 역할을 맡은 이후 지역 언론과의 첫 인터뷰이다. 이 조직은 한국 최초로 양성평등과 여성 권한 부여에 전념하는 유엔기관이다.

According to a 2023 U.N. report on gender equality index, Korea stands relatively higher than the world average in terms of securing women's basic needs such as health and education. Yet, the nation falls short of the global average when it comes to breaking the glass ceiling for women's participation in decision-making, Lee pointed out.
2023년 유엔 양성평등지수 보고서에 따르면 한국은 건강과 교육 등 여성의 기본 욕구 확보 측면에서 세계 평균보다 상대적으로 높다. 그러나 우리나라는 여성의 의사결정 참여에 대한 유리천장을 깨는 것에 있어서는 세계 평균에 못 미치고 있다고 이 연구원은 지적했다.

In Korea, women hold just 19.1 percent of the seats in the 21st National Assembly, lower than the world average of 26.3 percent. Among    17 percent are women, compared to the global average of 22.8 percent. Additionally, Korean women only occupy 14.6 percent of managerial positions at companies, which is lower than the world average of 31.2 percent.
한국에서, 21대 국회에서 여성은 겨우 19.1%의 의석을 차지하는데, 이는 세계 평균인 26.3%보다 낮은 수치이다. 국무위원 중, 17%가 여성인데 비해, 세계 평균인 22.8%는 여성이다. 게다가, 한국 여성은 기업에서 관리직의 14.6%만을 차지하는데, 이는 세계 평균인 31.2%보다 낮은 수치이다.

“Fewer women in leadership positions means the lack of opportunities for women's voices to be heard in society," she said.
그녀는 "지도자 자리에 있는 여성이 적다는 것은 사회에서 여성의 목소리가 들릴 기회가 부족하다는 것을 의미한다,"고 말했다.

"It is not only about women and men's issues, but also about whether society is ready to hear voices from individuals with different backgrounds and experiences ... Research shows that when women have a seat at the table, policies are more gender-responsive and inclusive," she added, expressing hopes for Korea to see progress in women's representation through the upcoming April 10 general elections.
그는 "여성과 남성 문제뿐만 아니라 사회가 다른 배경과 경험을 가진 개인의 목소리를 들을 준비가 돼 있는지에 대한 것"이라며 "여성이 식탁에 앉을 때 정책이 더 성 반응적이고 포용적이라는 연구 결과가 나왔다"고 덧붙이며 한국이 다가오는 4·10 총선을 통해 여성 대표성에 진전이 있기를 희망했다.

Lee is a gender equality expert with over three decades of experience in the government sector. She previously served as a deputy minister for youth and family at the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family.
이씨는 정부에서 30년 이상의 경험을 가진 양성평등 전문가이다. 그녀는 이전에 여성가족부에서 청소년가족담당 차관으로 일했다.

Since the establishment of the U.N. Women Seoul office, Lee Jeong-shim's team has organized numerous activities, such as training sessions, policy dialogues, and international forums. Their efforts have solidified the office's role as a central knowledge and partnership hub for gender equality across the Asia Pacific region.
유엔 여성 서울 사무소의 설립 이후, 이정심의 팀은 훈련 세션, 정책 대화, 그리고 국제 포럼과 같은 수많은 활동들을 조직해왔다. 그들의 노력은 아시아 태평양 지역의 양성 평등을 위한 중심 지식과 파트너십 허브로서의 사무소의 역할을 공고히 했다.

In September of last year, the center hosted a three-week Women’s Military Peace Operations Course (WMPOC), offering an invaluable opportunity for over 20 women military officers from 12 countries in the Asia Pacific region to prepare for deployment to U.N. peacekeeping operations.
이 센터는 지난해 9월 3주간의 여성군사평화작전과정(WMPOC)을 개최해 아시아태평양 지역 12개국 20여명의 여성군 장교들이 유엔 평화유지활동에 투입될 수 있도록 준비하는 귀중한 기회를 제공했다.

On this year's International Women's Day, the center will host a commemoration event titled "Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress," bringing together around 200 participants from the public and private sectors, as well as the diplomatic community. The event aims to foster reflection on why Korea needs to increase its investments in women.
센터는 올해 국제여성의 날에 외교계와 공공, 민간 등 200여 명이 참석한 가운데 '여성에 대한 투자: 진행 가속화'라는 제목의 기념행사를 개최한다. 이 행사는 한국이 왜 여성에 대한 투자를 늘려야 하는지에 대한 성찰을 키우는 것을 목적으로 한다.

"Financial investment in women remains alarmingly low around the globe," Lee said. "I hope our center can facilitate gender mainstreaming, particularly in sectors that have been largely untouched, by actively utilizing the strong brand power of U.N. Women."
"전 세계적으로 여성에 대한 재정적 투자는 놀라울 정도로 낮다"고 이씨는 말했다. "저는 우리 센터가 유엔 여성들의 강력한 브랜드 파워를 적극적으로 활용함으로써, 특히 거의 손대지 않은 부문에서, 젠더 주류화를 촉진할 수 있기를 바랍니다."

The director also addressed the widening gender divide among the younger generation, a phenomenon observed not only in Korea but also across the world.
그는 또한 젊은 세대들 사이에 벌어지는 성 격차를 다루었는데, 이는 한국뿐만 아니라 전 세계적으로 관찰되는 현상이다.

“There have been growing efforts to build male allyship for gender equality, driven not solely by altruistic motives but also by a recognition of mutual benefits," she said, explaining that achieving gender equality benefits both genders and stressing the positive impact on men as well.
그녀는 "이타적 동기뿐만 아니라 상호 이익에 대한 인식에 힘입어 성 평등을 위한 남성 동맹 관계를 구축하려는 노력이 증가하고 있다"며 성 평등을 달성하는 것이 양성 모두에게 이익이 된다고 설명하고 남성에게도 긍정적인 영향을 강조했다.

"This is why our center is deliberately bringing in not only women, but also men speakers who can disseminate this message, to counteract the misconception that gender equality is a zero-sum game between men and women."
 "우리 센터가 양성평등이 남녀의 제로섬 게임이라는 잘못된 인식에 대응하기 위해 여성뿐만 아니라 이 메시지를 전파할 수 있는 남성 연사들을 일부러 불러들이는 이유입니다."

#Genderequality양성평등 #zero-sumgame제로섬게임 # patriarchalculture가부장적문화 #glassceiling유리천정 #Cabinet members국무위원 #altruisticmotives이타적동기 #MinistryofGenderEqualityandFamily여성가족부