Korean Job Discussion Forums

[toomuchtime]

Ever get this question when out in public with your kid, sans wife?
When my child was less than one year old and I'd be out and about with her, all sorts of people (usually ajumas) would stare with looks of incomprehension that I (a man) could be out with my child without the support of my wife. The bold ones would actually ask: "where's the mother?"
I know it's partly their way of being conversational, but I also know that some of them are genuinely befuddled by the fact that a man can take care of a baby without the help of a woman (man, but Korean guys have it easy- they've convinced their wives that the only thing they can do is go to an office and make money- they are incapable of cleaning, cooking, tending to the baby...).
It's just not THAT hard.

[Corporal]

My husband (Korean) does his share of baby tending, usually at my insistence but also just because he wants to. He plays with her, changes her, feeds her etc. And in public too.

I did have it once though where I was out alone with my daughter and a woman came up to me and asked (after a few minutes of casual conversation): "where's your husband?"

I almost wanted to say "I don't have one" just to see her reaction.

[Ya-ta Boy]

Dear Toomuch,

You may be jumping the gun on this. Koreans often refer to someone as 'Chul Soo's mother' as a way of avoiding using someone's name. It's a culture thing.

I see lots of fathers walking down the street with a little kid, playing and interacting affectionately. My impression is that I see more of it here than back home.

[toomuchtime]

[Jensen]

I had to make a trip with my son (citizenship paperwork had to be finished and his mom was sick) across town once when he was only a week old. Took the subway for some demented reason. He started crying and the wrath of the ajumas was palpable: how could a man be taking care of a newborn...and why was I making him cry? He was obviously suffering terribly in my care, so finally I relented and let one of the more trustworthy appearing ladies hold him, and of course he stopped crying immediately. The little traitor.