Drinking Experiences of Women Alcoholics: A Feminist Approach

Kim, Sungjae

doi:2006.15.4.362

J Korean Acad Psychiatr Ment Health Nurs > Volume 15(4); 2006 > Article

Original Article

Journal of Korean Academy of psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing 2006;15(4):362-374.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.12934/jkpmhn.2006.15.4.362 Published online December 31, 2006.

Drinking Experiences of Women Alcoholics: A Feminist Approach

Sungjae Kim

Professor, Department of Nursing, Kangwon National University

여성 알코올 중독자의 음주 경험: 페미니스트적 접근

김성재

강원대학교 교수

Correspondence: Sungjae Kim, Tel: 82-33-250-8885, Fax: 82-33-242-8840,
Email: Sungjae@kangwon.ac.kr

Received: 9 October 2006 • Accepted: 26 October 2006

Abstract

Purpose
The purpose of this study was to explore and describe the experience of Korean women alcoholics from their perspectives using feminist approach.
Methods
The data were collected by individual in-depth interviews with ten participants. Results : Four main themes were emerged from thematic content analyses; a) ‘the good girl’ b) "the emancipated “child”’ c) "the Hyung-Mo-Yang-Cheo (wise mother, good wife) hiding behind an alcohol bottle 5 and d) 6 the “shell” of womanhood 5 .
Conclusion
These results showed that the gender norms rooted in the traditional family relationships interact with various individual needs, which was related to the motivation of drinking and the pattern of drinking behavior. The study suggested that drinking experiences among Korean women should be understood in the contexts of socio-cultural factors and a intervention program is developed to change Korean women's internalized gender norms.

Key Words: Qualitative research; Feminism; Alcoholism; Women