Korean Job Discussion Forums

[blynch]

I lived in Bundang, Korea for 1 year and never thought it's a derogatory or offensive term.
My quesiton is:
Is it offensive, mainly because it's occasionally used in a sarcastic or demeaning way?

[jeffkim1972]

No, it's just a term for married woman. Even if you are 18 and married, you are now an ajumma. If you are 60 and unmarried, you are still an agashi.

[VanIslander]

Yes, it is. Just ask a Korean. Poll question is absurd here.

Aju-moh-nee is the respectful term.

Seriously, ask Koreans about this.

"Ajumma!" is not a polite thing to call a woman in Korean culture. But of course many are impolite.

[Jizzo T. Clown]

I've used the word several times with my coworkers and have never been corrected. In fact they were impressed that I knew what it meant.

[jessie-b]

Maybe it wasn't offensive in the past, but it doesn't seem like many women want to be known as Ajummas. In my Korean class we have a few young women married to Koreans and there was no end of teasing from the teach about them being Ajummas. Teach said she got really angry is someone mistook her for an ajumma. Maybe its similar to being called, "ma'am" in some parts of the U.S.

[pkang0202]

It depends on the context. The word ajosshi has certainly been modified here on the forum. Ajosshi means a married man, but here on Dave's, the word has taken a negative connotation.

I think if you are just referring to a married woman then Ajumma is not derogatory. It CAN be offensive if it is used to stereotype Korean married women.

[bluelake]

I agree with VanIslander.

[zappadelta]

[ceesgetdegrees]

It's harsh when you are refering to a young ladie who has put their photo up on a website for everyone to see. are you really that angry at the world that you have to make unprovoked attacks like that?

[mindmetoo]

It used to be a term of respect but because it has become something of a negative. In modern, youth oriented, stylish Korea, it has taken on traits of a plump woman who long ago stopped following trends.

While the husband's sole role in Korean society was to contribute sperm and a paycheck, a married woman traditionally raised the children, helped them with their homework, cleaned the house, paid the bills, handled the family finances, clothed her family, cared for her husband's aged parents, and took an incredibly menial job to pay off her husband's debts. Because an ajumma has little time left in the day to keep up on current fashions, Korean society has rewarded the ajumma's efforts by turning her into a symbol of uncouth backwardness.

I find it interesting that society has not turned ajussi into a pejorative. However, among the ESL crowd, we use in a pejorative sense, referring to an older Korean male hepped up on but undeserving of privilege based solely on being born with one X and one Y chromosome.

"_________________
MM2 clearly has the gift for telling stories that both inform and move the heart. Amazing for a woman with an IQ of 80. "

Bhahahahaha. I've made the sig line of two nut bar Christians. Kind of shaking your faith, ain't I?

[Big_Bird]

[eamo]

I was told to refrain from calling youngish married women ajumma. Women under 50 who still take pride in their appearance don't seem to like the term.

But I think it's more an issue of female vanity, unwillingness to grow old, rather than the word being rude.

[blynch]

[Big_Bird]

[ella]

Some (young) Koreans will address a young white woman as "ajumma" as an insult.