René Mortimer’s Reviews > Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982 > Status Update

“Since she became a full-time housewife, she often noticed that there was a polarized attitude regarding domestic labor. Some demeaned it as “bumming around at home,” while others glorified it as “work that sustains life,” but none tried to calculate its monetary value. Probably because the moment you put a price on something, someone has to pay”.
👏👏👏

I can quote this book endlessly 🥲

“Every field has its technological advances and evolves in the direction that reduces the amount of physical labor required, but people are particularly reluctant to admit that the same is true for domestic labor”.

“Dirty laundry doesn’t march into the machine by itself, Jiyoung thought. The clothes don’t wash themselves with detergent and water, march back out when they’re done, and hang themselves on clotheslines. The vacuum doesn’t roll around with a wet and dry rag, wipe the floor, and wash and dry the rags for you. Have you ever even operated a washing machine or a vacuum cleaner?”

“She tried not to react emotionally to his words, but it was difficult. His list of potential losses seemed like such a trifle compared to the way her life could be thrown off course”.

I’m grateful that I’ve encountered this book at this point of my life after I escaped from making the worst decision of my life.
I want to hug this book 🥲

“And what will you be giving up, Oppa?”
“What?”
“You said don’t just think about what I’ll be giving up. I’m putting my youth, health, job, colleagues, social networks, career plans, and future on the line. No wonder all I can think about are the things I’m giving up. But what about you? What do you lose by gaining a child?”

Oh, and this one to my fresh ex who couldn’t handle that I have a life that doesn’t solely revolve around him:

“But her daily life was a battlefield and she didn’t have the luxury of being able to cater to someone else’s well-being when she was at risk of getting bloodied if she let down her guard”.

“In a few years, that precious daughter of yours will find herself exactly where I am now. Unless people like you stop treating me this way”.

My exact thoughts when a misogynistic professor said that life is hard for girls like me and as a woman my life will be full of injustice in my future woman-suited job anyway. Jokes on you, bud.