This book offers a critical-constructive study of Korean women's self-esteem from a feminist practical theological perspective. Jaeyeon Lucy Chung recognizes two different and yet related problems: the absence of scholarly work on women's self-esteem from non-white, non-Western groups in the field of practical theology, and the lack of attention to the low self-esteem prevalent in Korean women's sociocultural and religious context. Chung employs in-depth interview studies while drawing on theoretical resources of psychology, theology, and cultural studies to develop a relational-communal theory of self-esteem, and a systematic, communal understanding of pastoral care practice. The project offers insights into the life experience of Korean women, especially self-esteem, and it reveals some of the ways self-esteem can be fostered.

Fills a gap in the literature on self-esteem of non-white, non-Western groups in the field of practical theology Gives insights regarding the life experience of Korean women, and reveals some of the ways self-esteem can be fostered Contributes to the fields of practical theology, Asian theology, feminist theology, and pastoral care

Autorentext

Jaeyeon Lucy Chung is Assistant Professor of Pastoral Theology and Director of the Styberg Library at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, USA.

Inhalt

1. Introduction.- 2. Korean Women's Personal Narratives.- 3. Rhetoric of Obedience and Self-Sacrifice in Confucianism and Christianity.- 4. Self-Esteem as a Relational Psychological Construct.- 5. Imago Dei, Friendship, and the Theology of Self-esteem.- 6. Relational-Transformative Pastoral Care for Korean Women.