90년대 여성작가 소설에 나타난 모성 정체성의 수행 양상 - 공선옥‧은희경의 단편소설을 중심으로

초록

In Korean society, the meaning and role of motherhood have continuously evolved with the changing times. This is because motherhood is more closely intertwined with social and familial relationships than with the category of gender. As a result, motherhood can be seen as a complex and multifaceted identity mobilized across social, national, and even ethnic dimensions. This paper, focusing on Judith Butler’s concept of performative identity, considers motherhood not as a fixed state, but as a dynamic aspect of identity that is constructed and constantly changes according to social context. The 1990s, in particular, are viewed as a period of transition, a ‘juncture’ and a ‘gap’ marked by a widening disconnect between dominant discourses and everyday life. This unstable and irregular social backdrop serves as a stage where maternal identity is diversely constructed and manifested in various ways. This study analyzes the differing portrayals of maternal identity in the novels of Gong Seon-ok and Eun Hee-kyung, who were active during this period. In Gong Seon-ok’s works, female characters attempt to become historical agents by embracing men shattered by violence through ‘motherhood-as-performance.’ However, this approach contains a contradiction: it reinforces patriarchal stereotypes that view motherhood only through the mythical attributes of sacrifice and dedication, and the realm of reproduction. In contrast, Eun Hee-kyung’s novels feature female characters veiled in ‘disillusionment.’ The mother figure and the maternal identity embodied by these characters show a move toward resistance by rejecting the repetition of patriarchal performativity through a ‘break’ from the previous generation. By examining the different aspects of maternal identity in the novels of Gong Seon-ok and Eun Hee-kyung, this paper analyzes how women responded to and resisted the limitations of patriarchal power and social structures. The findings suggest that the works of these 1990s female authors did not merely remain as private-sphere writing, but also served a public role in reflecting and overcoming the contradictions of their time.

키워드