“You cannot imagine how many invisible obstacles a girl must endure to grow up stumbling through life.” 💧 In South Korea, this film has received high praise from female viewers with an average score of 9, while male audiences have rated it as low as 1 and even resorted to online harassment against the actors and calls to boycott its release. Directed by Kim Do-young and starring Jung Yu-mi and Gong Yoo, the film is adapted from Cho Nam-joo’s novel of the same name (highly recommended❗❗❗). It tells the story of an ordinary woman born in 1982 in South Korea.
🎬 In Korean culture, “Kim Ji-young” represents an unremarkable name; however, the protagonist reflects countless women’s experiences in reality.
💬 From her birth onward, Kim Ji-young faces gender-based discrimination. When her father returns home from a business trip with gifts for his son—a fountain pen—Ji-young and her sister receive only a notebook. On her way home from school, she is stalked by male classmates but is reprimanded by her father for wearing a short skirt and told not to smile at strangers. Upon entering the workforce, despite excelling in her role, she finds herself losing promotion opportunities to male colleagues.
These ingrained notions of inequality have long been entrenched in society, becoming invisible shackles that bind women. After marriage, Kim Ji-young sacrifices her career entirely to care for her husband and daughter but faces derogatory remarks when purchasing coffee alone—labeled as “a parasite on motherhood,” spending money earned through her husband’s hard work. During family gatherings at her mother-in-law’s house during holidays, she finds herself overwhelmed in the kitchen while others enjoy leisure time together in the living room; when an aunt offers help but is rebuffed by Ji-young’s mother-in-law with “You’re not part of this household,” it underscores further isolation. Under prolonged oppression and resentment, Ji-young begins experiencing dissociative episodes where she voices suppressed feelings through different personas.
📢 When pressured by her mother-in-law with endless demands: “Since your daughter has returned home now too; shouldn’t my daughter be allowed back?”
📢 When urged by her own mother to return to work while caring for children: “Mei-shu! You worked so hard sewing on that machine down at Cheonggyecheon just so you could bring your salary back each month—it broke my heart.”
📢 When faced with misunderstanding from her husband regarding working outside: She channels words through deceased friends saying: “Recently Ji-young has been suffering greatly; please tell her often that she’s doing well—that it’s okay—and thank you.” ……
💐 Kim Ji-young embodies more than just one individual; she symbolizes countless women’s struggles against gender bias along with challenges between family obligations and professional aspirations encountered daily. I sincerely hope every sister will take time to watch this movie—not merely out of sorrow—but rather draw strength from it—to courageously say “no” against gender prejudice.
🌟 “I genuinely wish every daughter can embrace grander dreams without limits.” May every girl break free from any labels imposed upon them while receiving equal respect and love.