Why do women value credentials? Perceptions of gender inequality and credentialism in South Korea

Sung won Kim, Cong Zhang, Hyeyon Chung, Yunjung Kim and Su Yon Choi

International Journal of Educational Development, 2020, vol. 73, issue C

Abstract: This mixed methods study investigates how perceptions of gender inequality can positively predict credentialist attitudes and beliefs for women based on a survey of 488 college students from six universities with an approximately equal proportion of men and women, and follow-up interviews with 18 of these respondents in 2018-19. 11 men and 7 women were interviewed. The findings suggest that women are more likely to value credentials in the face of discrimination at work because they believed credentials could help them overcome their gender disadvantage, catch up with men, and minimize their risk of failure, as education was perceived to provide equal opportunities for men and women.

Keywords: Gender inequality; Korea; East Asia; Credentialism; Higher education; Mixed methods (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:injoed:v:73:y:2020:i:c:s0738059319309381

DOI: 10.1016/j.ijedudev.2020.102158

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