'Gold Miss' is a Korean term used to describe an unmarried woman with a high socioeconomic status and level of education. These women frequently have a long career, and enjoy being single as a result of social changes which have made marriage later in life common and reduced gender discrimination in the work place. They are also interested in developing themselves and their skills. They frequently spend lots of money shopping and enjoying trips overseas. They do not prioritise love or marriage in their lives.
Contents
- Characteristics of a Gold Miss
- Gold Miss and Marketing
- Old Miss
- Gold Miss vs Silver Miss
- Criticism of the term Gold Miss
- References
In modern consumer-based society, this group often becomes influential. They are often criticised using the derogatory term 'Doenjang girls', which means "soy bean paste girls". The term 'Doenjang girl' is frequently used in Korea to describe someone obsessed with brand names and their appearance. They seek a luxurious life of consumerism and depend on their husband's resources, even if this is not consistent with the amount of money they possess. 'Doenjang girl' has similar negative connotations to the term 'gold digger' in English-speaking countries. A 'Gold Miss', though, is not the same as a 'Doenjang girl': 'Gold Misses' are able to make social and economical progress, building up wealth for themselves and enjoying their lives using their own resources.
A 'Gold Miss' should not be confused with a different term in Japan,'Hanakosan'. The difference between 'Hanakosan' and 'Gold miss' is that 'Hanakosan' describes women who have failed to find a marriage; by contrast, a 'Gold Miss' normally chooses not to marry.
Characteristics of a 'Gold Miss'
An unmarried woman with a high level of academic education, who receive a high income as professional workers, can be defined as a 'Gold Miss'. In addition, the term refers to single woman aged in her mid-30s or above who has a job at a major company. 'Gold Misses' often make over 40 million won per year, and can sometimes be worth over 80 million won (acquired through either investment or real estate).
'Gold Miss' and Marketing
The term 'Gold Miss' was originally used in Korean in a social and economic context, because 'Gold Misses' were leading the new trend of consumption in the travel business, the fashion industry, the beauty industry and the food service industry.
'Old Miss'
A similar term, 'Old Miss', is used to describe an elderly woman who has passed the suitable time for marriage. This term is roughly equivalent to the words spinster and old maid in English-speaking countries. This term is not used consistently, because the suitable time for marriage can differ widely, depending on an individual's culture or era.
'Gold Miss vs 'Silver Miss'
The term 'Silver Miss' is used to describe a single working woman who is outperformed by a 'Gold Miss'. This term most probably derives from the fact that silver is associated with a lower status than gold. The single working women described as 'Silver Misses' normally satisfy three conditions: firstly, they have graduated from university; secondly, their annual income is about thirty million won; thirdly, they are between thirty and forty years old. Their interests and career plans tend to be similar to those of a 'Gold Miss'. However, 'Silver Misses' tend to be less wealthy than 'Gold Misses', so they must minimise their expenses.
Criticism of the term 'Gold Miss'
'Gold Miss' might seem to be a friendly colloquial expression describing a woman's abilities. However, it has been criticised for concealing a concern with materialism and discrimination against women. In addition, it suggests that non-standard female workers are being problematised. Sang-soo Ahn, who works in Korean Women's Development Institute, said "Despite the appearance of 'Gold Miss', most women are pressured into following the traditional role of their gender."