Discriminatory remarks that define’abnormal’ for single mothers
Kim Jong-in, chairman of the People’s Strength Hypertrophy, visits Aeranwon, a welfare facility for single-parent families in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, to measure body temperature.
Kim Jong-in, chairman of the National Forces Emergency Response Committee, visited a support facility for single mothers on the 9th and said, “To me, there aren’t many normal mothers.” Controversy is expected as the statement reveals the discriminatory gaze that stigmatizes single mothers as’abnormal’.
Chairman Kim visited Aeranwon, a welfare facility for unmarried parent families in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, and held a meeting on-site. Aeranwon is Korea’s first living facility for single mothers and children.
Director Kang Young-sil, Aeran-won, said, “We are operating facilities for single mothers for adults and youth, and helping single mothers with intellectual disabilities to become self-reliant,” he said. After hearing the explanation, Chairman Kim agreed with the difficulties of single mothers, saying, “The mother who gave birth to the child may be a problem again.”
However, Chairman Kim said, “(In this facility) there are not many normal mothers,” he said. “Children should be properly cared for so that they can grow up normally. In the case of (single mothers) mothers, (normal childcare) I think it’s hard.” He added, “(Single mother) is very vulnerable mentally, so it would be difficult to care for it well.” Chairman Kim’s remarks correspond to discriminatory remarks that define unmarried mothers as’abnormal’ by looking at single mothers with the gaze of’normal family ideology’.
However, an official on the side of Chairman Kim explained, “It came from the process of talking about mothers who were difficult to raise due to mental retardation among those held in the facility.”
Meanwhile, Chairman Kim asked the facility on this day, “Is the case of a person who is inevitably conceived for a single mother is the placenta?” Regarding this, Director Kang Young-sil, Aeran-won explained, “Unwed mothers are people who are pregnant before marriage, but there are different age differences and circumstances.”
The following is an excerpt from the remarks related to Chairman Kim Jong-in.
▲ Kang Young-sil, Director Aeran-won = (Presentation of mentally impaired pregnant women, etc.)
▲Kim Jong-in, Chairman of the National Power Emergency Response Committee = The mother who gave birth to the child may also be a problem. Those who manage at the facility.
▲Director Kang Young-sil = Because it is so difficult, we have mental or intellectual disabilities. I would say that these people are wrinkled in basic facilities. Hate mothers go to communal life, but communal families cannot be seen in divorce, bereavement, and domestic violence. In fact, there may be teenagers among those who have divorced or died. I think this should change the law.
▲Chairman Kim Jong-in = It will be difficult to manage the facility. I have to take care of my mom, but I have to take care of the kids too. My mother seems to me that there are not many normal mothers. Since a child is born, it is necessary to take care of it properly and protect it so that it can grow up normally, but I think that is also difficult for a mother. Since I am in a very vulnerable mental state, it would not be difficult for my mother to care well.
▲Director Kang Young-sil = There are more mothers who have healthy children and raise them.
▲Kim Mi-ae, Congressman of the People’s Strength = Basically, people who need care must take care of mourning, so they have to take care of double care.
▲Director Kang Young-sil = So, mothers take care of them like teenagers and their children take care of them.
Jihyun Kim reporter [email protected]
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