Haenyeo: The Women of the Sea

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https://en.namu.wiki/w/%ED%95%B4%EB%85%80
Haenyeo from the 1950s

Just below SOUTH KOREA, between the YELLOW Sea and the EAST CHINA sea, lies a little volcanic island called JEJU. Cultural norms in South Korea regarding gender roles are very traditional; men work and women stay home and take care of the family. But not in Jeju. The HAENYEO (Hen-Yo), meaning women of the sea, are a MATRIARCHAL (women at the head of family or organization) society.

SPELL: VOLCANIC CULTURAL TRADITIONAL
Name one of the seas mentioned above that the island is between. YELLOW SEA, EAST CHINA SEA
What volcanic island is mentioned above? JEJU
Explain what traditional gender roles are, according to the text. MEN WORK WOMEN TAKE CARE OF THE FAMILY
What is the word for women of the sea in Korean? HAENYEO
A __________ society is one where women are at the head. MATRIARCHAL
Name a country nearby South Korea. NORTH KOREA, JAPAN, CHINA, RUSSIA

Jeju hasn’t always been this way, though. It has a rich history dating back to the 17th century when the women of Jeju were forced to HEED (careful attention, listen) the call of necessity. During this time, the majority of men on Jeju Island were either CONSCRIPTED (forcing people to join the military by law) into the army or had died at sea while fishing. The ruler at the time IMPOSED (forced) heavy taxes on the earnings of men, but the earnings of women were excused from the tax.

SPELL: HEED MILITARY EARNINGS
In what century were the Jeju women exempt from earnings taxes? 17TH CENTURY
Name one synonym given above for the word Heed. CAREFUL ATTENTION, LISTEN
What is it called when people are forced to join the military by law? CONSCRIPTED
The ruler at the time ___________ heavy taxes on the earnings of men. IMPOSED
Women were ______ from tax. EXCUSED
What are your thoughts on taxing earnings?

https://oceanographicmagazine.com/features/last-of-their-kind/
Haenyeo diving

This led to the women becoming the primary BREADWINNERS of their families by deep diving for marine life. Over time, only girls were trained to execute the dangerous task of freediving to harvest ABALONE, CONCH, seaweed, sea URCHIN, and octopus from the depths of the ocean floor. Becoming a Haenyeo is a TREACHEROUS (dangerous) and exhausting journey. Girls train from the age of 10 (sometimes younger) to dive as deep as 20 meters, holding their breath for up to 2 minutes. They use no diving APPARATUS (technical machinery), just fins, googles, weighted vests or belts (this helps with diving deeper), and wetsuits.

SPELL: EXHAUSTING DANGEROUS TECHNICAL
Women became the __________ of their families. BREADWINNERS
Name one type of marine life harvested by the Haenyeo mentioned above. ABALONE, CONCH, SEAWEED, SEA URCHIN, OCTOPUS
What word mentioned above means dangerous? TREACHEROUS
At what age do girls typically train to become a Haenyeo? 10 YEARS
1 meter is approximately 3.28 feet. How far down can the Haenyeo dive in feet? 20 X 3.28 = 65.5 FEET
What is another word for technical machinery? APPARATUSES
Name one item listed above that is included in the Haenyeo diving gear. FINS, GOGGLES, WEIGHTED VEST/BELT, WETSUIT
VAKT: Try to hold your breath for a minute!

Originally, the Haenyeo dove in a cloth material. Fortunately for these GRITTY (courageous) women, the government supplied them with wetsuits in the 1970s to PROLONG (extend) dives and protect them from the cold temperatures of the water. The bright orange BUOYS attached to their collection nets help keep their treasures afloat and are iconic. They are a sure sign for someone watching from the shoreline that there is a Haenyeo diving nearby. The Haenyeo also use these buoys as a resting place between dives.

SPELL: BUOY GOVERNMENT COURAGEOUS
What did the Haenyeo originally dive in? CLOTH MATERIAL
What word mentioned above means courageous? GRITTY
When did the government supply the Haenyeo with wetsuits? 1970
How long have the Haenyeo been diving in wetsuits? CURRENT YEAR-1970=
What were the effects of diving in wetsuits for the Haenyeo? PROLONGED DIVES, PROTECTION FROM THE COLD WATER
What is another word mentioned for extend? PROLONG
What do the Haenyeo use the bright orange buoys for? KEEPS THEIR TREASURES AFLOAT, TO REST BETWEEN DIVES

According to some, deep diving is not difficult because of the lack of oxygen, but because of the CARBON DIOXIDE buildup in the body. After a Haenyeo comes up from a dive, the first thing she does is exhale, then breathe in a new breath at an accelerated speed. This creates a unique noise that sounds like “HOI HOI” and is called the SUBISORI. The Subisori is an emblem of the Haenyeo but also lets the group know where the other divers are, and is a subtle check-in.

SPELL: OXYGEN EXHALE EMBLEM
According to the text, deep diving is difficult because of the ______ build up in the body. CARBON DIOXIDE
What does the noise the Haenyeo make sound like? HOI HOI
What is the “hoi hoi” sound called? SUBISORI
What do the Haenyeo use the subisori for? EXHALE AND INHALE QUICKLY, TO CHECK IN WITH ONE ANOTHER
How do you feel when you hold your breath?
VAKT: Watch the link below and listen for the subisori. 1:45-2:15
VAKT: Try to whistle while blowing out like the Haenyeo’s subisori!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lk7DQLMKBTE

Group of Haenyeo

Within the Haenyeo, there is a HIERARCHY (an organization in which people are ranked one above the other according to authority). The rank consists of a low HAGUN, middle JUNGGUN, and high SANGGUN rank according to skill level. Above the high rank is the highest rank that leads the Haenyeo community, called the DAESANGGUN. The Daesanggun must be an expert at harvesting great seafood as well as PREDICTING (estimating) the weather patterns as accurately as possible.

SPELL: AUTHORITY ESTIMATE ACCURATELY
What is it called in an organization in which people are ranked one above the other according to authority? HIERARCHY
Name one rank mentioned. LOW, MIDDLE, HIGH
What is the highest rank called? DAESANGGUN
Name one thing the Daesanggun must be an expert on. HARVESTING SEAFOOD, PREDICTING WEATHER PATTERNS
Why might it be important to predict weather patterns as the leader of a Haenyeo group?
VAKT: Watch a clip about Haenyeo history 1:45- 3:11
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5nNXdzvex08

https://www.ajplus.net/stories/haenyeo-divers-threatened-by-climate-change
Haenyeo smiling

The average age of a Haenyeo is between 50 and 80 years old, and the average death rate is 3 per year. The PRECARIOUSNESS (dangerous) of this lifestyle is not wasted on these “sea grannies.” Many are aware of their aching bodies and bone COMPLICATIONS from the effects of diving for decades. “If I weren’t diving, I would just be growing potatoes,” laughs YOO OK-YEON (62 yrs old). These women had no education, and no Page | 5 Question Type Key (KNOWN-SEMI OPEN-PRIOR KNOWLEDGE-MATH-OPEN-VAKT)alternative but to dive. They dove through pregnancy, and many gave birth on boats after collecting their catch for the day.

SPELL: PRECARIOUSNESS DECADES ALTERNATIVE
What is the average age of a Haenyeo? BETWEEN 50 AND 80 YEARS OLD
What was the nickname given to the Haenyeo in this chunk? SEA GRANNIES
Name one thing that effects the Haenyeo’s bodies from diving for decades mentioned above. ACHING BODIES, BONE COMPLICATIONS
“If I weren’t diving, I would be growing potatoes,” says who? YOO OKYEON
If Yoo Ok-Yeon has been diving since she was 10 years old, how long has she been diving? 62-10=52 YEARS
They dove through _______ and gave birth on boats after collecting their catch of the day. PREGNANCY

https://www.visitjeju.net/en/themtour/view?contentsid=CNTS_200000000012528
Haenyeo at the Bulteok for lunch

The Haenyeo spend up to 7 hours a day diving in the ocean. Can you imagine?! Living the majority of your life in the ocean?! They gather for a break around lunch at the BULTEOK (a place of rest), which is a circular stone wall. There, they make fires to cook some of what they have caught, get warm, and talk amongst themselves. This break provides another opportunity for these women to gossip, give tips, and strengthen the Haenyeo bond that only each other understand. This way of life can be ARDUOUS (difficult, tiring), but EDIFYING (rewarding) and enriching.

SPELL: ARDUOUS CIRCULUAR ENRICHING
Up to how many hours do the Haenyeo spend in the water? 7 HOURS
Let’s say hypothetically, that a Haenyeo dove for 7 hours straight for 90 days. How many minutes did she spend diving? 60 X 7= 420, 420 X 90= 37,800 minutes
Where do the Haenyeo spend the majority of their life? THE OCEAN
What is the place of rest called? BULTEOK
What do the Haenyeo do at the Bulteok? Name one thing listed. MAKE FIRES, COOK SOME OF WHAT THEY CAUGHT, GET WARM, TALK AMONGST THEMSELVES
Name one thing the breaks provide opportunities for? GOSSIP, GIVE TIPS, STRENGTHEN THEIR BOND
What is the synonym given for rewarding? EDIFYING
Name one synonym given for the word arduous. DIFFICULT, TIRING
Describe something you might think is arduous.
Describe something you might think is edifying.

It is customary to pass the Haenyeo tradition from mother to daughter, but in recent decades this lifestyle has been SHUNNED (rejected), preferring a safer, more comfortable lifestyle. In the 1970s, there were around 14,000 Haenyeo; today, there are around 4,500. It wasn’t until 2016, when UNESCO added the Haenyeo culture to its list of INTANGIBLE CULTURAL HERITAGE, that there was a shift in thinking regarding these sea women.

SPELL: UNESCO PREFERRING CUSTOMARY
What is another word for rejected? SHUNNED
In your words why has the Haenyeo way of life been shunned? PEOPLE PREFERRING A SAFER, MORE COMFORTABLE LIFESTYLE
UNESCO added the Haenyeo culture to its list of what? INTANGIBLE CULTURAL HERITAGE
What is the difference in Haenyeo numbers since 1970? 14,000-4,500= 9,500
What does UNESCO stand for? UNITED NATIONS EDUCATIONAL, SCIENTIFIC AND CULTURAL ORGANIZATION

https://www.sidetracked.com/women-of-the-sea/ Haenyeo with her catch

Even with the 3 deaths per year amongst the Haenyeo, MORTALITY (death) rates are SIGNIFICANTLY higher compared to their elderly peers on the mainland of South Korea. These women are able to make up to WON 30M ($25,000) a year. Through diving, they are able to be more financially stable, stay physically active, and have an IMPENETRABLE (strong) community to cling to. Being a Haenyeo is not only a job but also a SAENGHWAL (life, way of existence in Korean).

SPELL: SIGNIFICANTLY ELDERLY MAINLAND
What is another word for death mentioned above? MORTALITY
How much money are the Haenyeo able to earn a year? WON 30M OR $25,000
Name one benefit of being a Haenyeo mentioned above. FINANCIALLY STABLE, STAY PHYSICALLY ACTIVE, COMMUNITY
What is another word for strong mentioned above? IMPENETRABLE
What is the Korean word for way of existence? SAENGHWAL

There is so much to be learned from these incredible women. Their example of MOXIE (courageous spirit, determination, perseverance) is something to be respected and APPLAUDED. I’ve always said I would love to live in the ocean, but these women have really made it their home! My husband lived in South Korea for 2 years and speaks fluent Korean. Because of this, our family gets a taste of Korea regularly with their food, cultural insights, traditions, language, and Korean friends. To say these women hold a place in my heart is an understatement. GAMSAHABNIDAM (thank you in Korean) Haenyeo!

SPELL: MOXIE FLUENT INCREDIBLE
Give one synonym mentioned for the word moxie. COURAGEOUS SPIRIT, DETERMINATION, PERSEVERANCE
Their example of moxie is something to be respected and what? APPLAUDED
How many months did my husband live in Korea? (1 yr= 12 months) 12 X 2= 24 MONTHS
Name one way our family enjoys the Korean culture. FOOD, CULTURAL INSIGHTS, TRADITIONS, LANGUAGE, KOREAN FRIENDS
How do you say thank you in Korean? GAMSAHABNIDAM

CREATIVE WRITING:
1. What are your thoughts on traditional gender roles?
2. Why do you think the Haenyeo keep diving even into their old age?
3. The Haenyeo have a community to belong to. What are your thoughts on belonging to a community?
4. Write a letter to a Haenyeo community.

Sources:

https://oceanographicmagazine.com/features/last-of-their-kind/ https://www.ft.com/content/e1ec5434-50f8-11e5-b029-b9d50a74fd14
https://www.ajplus.net/stories/haenyeo-divers-threatened-by-climatechange
https://www.sidetracked.com/women-of-the-sea/
https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/haenyeo-jeju-island
https://www.visitjeju.net/en/themtour/view?contentsid=CNTS_20000000001 2528