무엇이 성평등 가족을 만드나 [한채윤의 비 온 뒤 무지개]

On August 23rd, a workshop focused on creating equal families took place in Jeju, involving seven families. This initiative was carried out in collaboration between the Jeju Special Self-Governing Province Office and the Gender Equality Education Institute, using funds from the South Korean government's "2026 Gender Equality Movement Support Project."

The program began with each group answering questions specific to their characteristics, jotting down their thoughts, and creating a household checklist for chores and caretaking. Families spent time having fun together. One of the biggest concerns from the mother group was the overwhelming amount of tasks they had to complete. This issue extends beyond individual complaints; according to the 2024 National Time Accounting Survey, unpaid household work in South Korea is worth 582.4 trillion won, which represents one-fifth of the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Despite increasing male participation in household tasks, the gap remains due to the lack of planning and consideration for "invisible mental work" in daily life. The workshop highlighted that practical steps such as managing the family schedule, maintaining social relationships, and planning meals were often overlooked. Participants committed to being the primary caretakers for their children when they were sick or helping out with household chores.

The workshop aimed to shift the focus from "helping mothers" to "taking care of my own life," encouraging individuals to become independent agents in their own lives while also recognizing their role as part of gender equality practice. Participants expressed that forming a gender-equal family would lead to less arguing, more communication, and a more democratic relationship where everyone feels respected and appreciative.

Ultimately, true gender equality involves not just the physical division of tasks like cleaning but also the mental effort of sharing the "burden of mental work" in everyday life.