A Study on the Labor Experience of Female Slaves in the Yi Dynasty

조선시대 비자(婢子)의 경제활동

The aim of this study was to clarify the social labor experience of women especially female slaves and to review the family problems of them in the Yi Dynasty. For the purpose, this study made use of literature reviews. It was founded that female slaves in the Yi Dynasty had participated in social labor between the ages 10 and 60 though they were forced to work against their will. The slaves whether they belonged to government or landowners were entrusted with hard work or were bound to pay cotton fabrics. So they contributed to maintain national economy and to accumulate private wealth but they sometimes suffered their family to be dissolved by the demand of owners.