jasdooit

On the 1st of last month, the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family was re-launched with the same name “Ministry of Gender Equality and Family” (성평등가족부). The organization also experienced a reorganization. The “Women’s Policy Bureau” was renamed to “Gender Equality Policy Bureau,” and the “Women’s Policy Division” became the “Gender Equality Policy Division.” All departments now use the term “gender equality,” except for one division that uses an unfamiliar term: the “Gender Equity Planning Division” (성형평성기획과). This division was newly created in June following President Lee Jae-myung’s directive to “also address areas where men face discrimination.” Its responsibility is to identify and enhance systems where men encounter reverse discrimination.

Nevertheless, some individuals wonder why a distinct “Gender Equity Planning Division” was established rather than incorporating this responsibility within the “Gender Equality Policy Division.” Additionally, there are inquiries regarding the distinction between “gender equality” and “gender equity.”

The department stated, “The phrase ‘gender equity’ focuses on proactively recognizing disparities between genders and addressing them to promote fairness.” It further noted that the term aligns with the dictionary meaning of “equity” as a condition of balance.

This newspaper identified that “gender equality” and “gender equity” are different concepts. The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) clarifies on its FAQ page: “Gender equity is the process of ensuring fair treatment for men and women. When men and women begin from unequal positions, certain strategies and actions are necessary to address this imbalance. These actions result in ‘equality.’” In other words, “gender equality” is the ultimate objective, while “gender equity” refers to the methods used to reach it. Although the ministry did not clearly define this difference, the “Gender Equity Planning Division” supports the concept of tackling discrimination against men. Within and outside the ministry, some argue, “Since addressing male discrimination is a major task outlined by the president, a new term was introduced to distinguish it from existing departments.” Meanwhile, women’s organizations criticize, “While discrimination against women is still serious, focusing only on male discrimination is concerning.” The ministry continues to emphasize addressing discrimination affecting both genders.