Quote from: anne_indy on October 06, 2018, 06:51:55 AM
Barbie - I have always thought that Korean culture was fairly conservative, and from my interactions with Korean academic colleagues, that they are generally very formal compared with American academics. Do your colleagues (and students) address you by your feminine first name, or is it always Professor xxxx? In the cases that I am aware of (primarily in the US), it was always been a big deal when a professor came out as transgender and began to come to the university in their preferred gender.
Thanks,
Anne
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Anne,
Yes. You know very well about Korean culture. I also thought like you. But there is another aspect here. I can not pick up what it is, but the word 'change' may vaguely describe it. Here, everything has changed rapidly compared with other countries. Young people here do not care so much about what other people wear or do as long as it is legal. People here seem to be ready well for any change in social norm.
Another factor I guess is Buddhism. Although a significant portion of the population here is Judo-Christian, most Korean are under influence of Buddhism. Contrast to the western countries, Catholics are most liberal and open-minded here. Thus, religious people have never caused any problem in my journey of transition (albeit without hrt).
At my university, especially at my department, it has been funny. My feminine presentation of course caused a lot of concern. But, faculty members used to say it is OK as long as the students accept it, and students seem to think it is OK as long as their professors accept it, and etc. I can say that all people I have talked regarding my feminine presentation said they themselves can accept me, but just worry about possible negative thoughts and responses of the OTHERS. But those OTHERS say exactly the same to me. I interact frequently with government officials here, and they seem to think it is OK as long as people at my university accept it, and it is not their business. My wife and kids say it is OK as long as other people accept it. It is an interesting cycle of excuse, but above all, as long as my wife supports me, and nobody can meddle in our family affairs any further.
Finally, the most critical one, I guess, is that I have been at a kind of inner circle of elite people. Here education is the most important factor in determining the social position of a person. It may be true in other countries, but in Korea and probably in Japan/China, educated people are far more highly regarded. Here most people have a kind of trauma from preparing for college entrance exams. They know very well how much difficult it has been for me to reach my current position, even without my curriculum vitae. Whatever I do, people generally assume that I am doing a kind of right thing. As long as my performance as a researcher and an educator has not been disappointing, nobody can seriously challenge me even if he/she indeed is determined to do. Also, I got a tenure position here early.
And, a minor factor, I guess, is palatability (or passability). I remember that my mentor during my Ph.D. course in the U.S. mentioned the term 'palatablity' when we talked about my gender identity and future career after I first wore skirt in the campus. I have maintained my body figure by regular exercise.
Yes. In retrospect, it was not easy at all. I am also sometimes surprised at the flexibility of those seemingly conservative and sometimes bigot people. A fact is that faculty members and students here see me far more frequently than I see myself in the mirror, accustomed far more rapidly to my new image.
Hoping this will explain a part of your question,
Cheers!
barbie~~
