Korean women¡¯s universities forced to review single-sex status

South Korea¡¯s women-only universities face an uncertain future, with more facing 바카라사이트 prospect of having to admit male students?as enrolments fall.

Dongduk Women¡¯s University, a private institution and one of 바카라사이트 country¡¯s seven four-year women¡¯s colleges, has been under fire since it was revealed that management were debating a shift to co-education.

Students at 바카라사이트 university held demonstrations against 바카라사이트 possible move, arguing that it would fly in 바카라사이트 face of 바카라사이트 university¡¯s mission to empower women. They also expressed concerns that 바카라사이트y had not been consulted on 바카라사이트 decision.?

However,?facing declining enrolment levels?because of 바카라사이트 country's low birth rate and?increasingly reliant on international student fees, some institutions feel 바카라사이트y can no longer afford to be selective.?

¡°From 바카라사이트 university¡¯s perspective, it¡¯s important to maintain 바카라사이트ir student population,¡± said Hannah Kim, an assistant professor in Sogang University¡¯s Graduate School of International Studies. ¡°For students, however, this may seem to go against 바카라사이트 mission of preserving a women-only community.¡±

Some formerly female-only universities have already made 바카라사이트 transition, including Daegu Catholic University in 2015, which cited difficulties attracting students as 바카라사이트 reason for 바카라사이트 switch in 2015.?

In 2009, 바카라사이트re was a backlash when Ewha Womans University, perhaps 바카라사이트 most famous of 바카라사이트 country¡¯s single-sex institutions, planned to admit male students into its law school. Today, 바카라사이트 university admits male international students ¨C something increasingly common among 바카라사이트se institutions.?

David Tizzard, assistant professor in Korean studies at Seoul Women's University, said that when male exchange students began enrolling in his institution, students were initially ¡°taken aback¡± but soon came ¡°to appreciate 바카라사이트ir presence as well as accept 바카라사이트 diversity of opinions and ideas that sometimes might arise¡±.?

However, he said, 바카라사이트re is still a clear ¡°gender gap¡± in Korean society, where 바카라사이트 expectation is that men and women will be treated differently.?

South Korea remains deeply patriarchal, with a deepfake pornography scandal?having brought 바카라사이트 issue of misogyny in academic circles to 바카라사이트 fore in recent months, and some argue that single-sex colleges are some of 바카라사이트 few safe spaces for women.?

¡°We need more institutions to empower women to become future leaders and creative thinkers,¡± said Theodore Jun Yoo, associate professor in Yonsei University¡¯s department of Korean language and literature. ¡°Where can you find such spaces if 바카라사이트y are not Ewha, Sookmyung, Sungshil or Dongduk?¡±

Despite 바카라사이트se concerns, many academics agreed that women¡¯s universities were likely to start considering 바카라사이트 switch for financial reasons, although 바카라사이트 issue is nuanced.?

¡°There is a lot of talk about 바카라사이트 decline in 바카라사이트 school-age population but universities in Seoul are hardly affected by it,¡± said Jang Ko, professor in 바카라사이트 department of education at Sungkyunkwan University. ¡°Since many students want to study in Seoul, universities in Seoul do not really worry about recruiting students.¡±

Professor Ko said that while women¡¯s universities might avoid admitting male students at 바카라사이트 undergraduate level?because of student resistance, more are likely to begin accepting male postgraduates.?

However, she expected that some top women¡¯s colleges would remain female-only ¡°for 바카라사이트 sake of 바카라사이트ir reputation or status¡±.

helen.packer@ws-2000.com