KIM JIYOUNG , BORN 1982

Kim Ji-young is every woman

Book: Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982

Pages: 163

Rating: 4.0 / 5

By: Unnati

Written by Cho Nam-Joo and translated by Jamie Chang, the book is divided into three sections. The translation to English by Mr.Chang is smooth and skilfully reserves the atmosphere with its indifferent narration.

The first part sees our titular character Ji-young as a thirty-three year old, married and with a daughter, she has left her job. One day her husband observes her abnormal behaviour when she pretends to be another person. The incident raises questions as to what has happened with Jiyoung and why she is acting strange?

The second part dives into the past of Ji-young from childhood to marriage and acts as the final piece of the puzzle as to why Jiyoung has gotten so strange. And here are the incidents, dialogues, Ji-young's passive thoughts, and the social settings that contain the heart of the book. Soon connections can be made to her abnormal behaviour. The third part circles back to the present and sees the narrator, reflecting on his surroundings, which presents as a wider commentary about the role of women in the workforce and the social norms that makes them choose between work or home.

It is impossible to put down the book once it has captured your attention with the events that make you pause, recall and retrospect. The experiences of Kim Ji-Young are every woman’s experiences as we see her navigate through challenges and limitations that are relevant beyond the cultural context. The book does not state the point but rather helps one arrive at the point themselves with its simple narration and presents it as it is.

The writing ceaselessly mixes the social commentaries and expectations into the life of Ji-young and how they have shaped her to be, beneath her passive surface. Throughout the book, realities of gender differences, societal pressure and norms continued from across the generations are portrayed in the fictional world, which serve as a starting point for conversations pertaining to societal change and gender equality.

Finally, ‘Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982’ is a necessary read for anyone interested in exploring the social commentaries around gender that are very well reflected in the real world and the struggle of women in a patriarchal society.