ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book examines the nature and scope of the participation of women in Korean politics at the elite level by studying the life histories of the women members of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea. It provides ethnographic materials on the experiences of women in South Korean politics and, offers theoretical perspectives on the processes of social change in gender roles and relations. The book provides cross-cultural comparative perspectives on such topics as family backgrounds, gender role socialization, the patterns of recruitment, and the impact of the electoral system on the representation of women in national politics. It highlights the generational differences between pioneer- and second-generation women lawmakers.
