Purpose: the reason for which something exists or is created.
Believe it or not, we all have a purpose. Some may never find it, some change with time, some fear it or in Kim Ji-Young’s case, the pressures of society pulled her away from it. Her story highlights how societal expectations can quietly erode identity and mental health.
Kim Ji-young is the middle child between an older sister and a younger brother, born to parents who grew up during an era where sons were prioritized, as they were seen as the parents’ future, while daughters were expected to be the helpers, housewives, and mothers. Some women even had to uphold these roles while being a part of the workforce.
Even though she wasn’t born in that era, she still felt the effects it. From Constantly hearing her dad’s mother remind her mom that she needed another son because her daughters weren’t enough. To Seeing the bit of resentment her mother held towards her uncles for having to work as a child to pay for their schooling, ignoring her own. And her father, his son was his pride and joy, his only priority
Growing older kim ji young realized she had a love for Korean literature and went on to study it in university. After graduating, she got a job as a writer for a marketing company, and she was great at it. But didn’t get the opportunity to advance because her boss thought she wouldn’t be a good fit for such a role. As she was newly married, and married women were supposed to become housewives, have babies, or be a stay at home moms.
So that’s exactly what she did. Had a baby, resign from her job, and became a stay at home mom. Taking on three major identities in a short period of time. By assuming these roles society demanded, her own aspirations were suffocated, and as a result, she experienced what I like to call “the purpose glitch.” The purpose glitch is when a character (or even someone in real life), temporarily breaks down either mentally, emotionally, or spiritually. This happens because of the misalignment between who they truly are and what they’re doing with their life. Kim Ji Young’s glitch was depression. A depression that would cause her soul to protest in a form of dissociation, which she unknowingly entered, speaking as if she were someone else but voicing the truths of herself and others. It was as if the stories her soul held were desperately trying to be heard.
Her husband noticed these changes in her behavior and wanted to do everything in his power to try and make her better. So he suggested she see a psychiatrist. she thought it would be a waste of money and mentioned her dream of going back to work. Her husband supported her suggestion. When they began to plan for this shift, you could see life coming back into her: she was smiling more, got dressed up and wore makeup again, stimulating her mind figuring out ways to achieve this. For the very first time in years, she was excited about life.
But she slips up and tells her mother in law about the plan she and her husband made for her to return to work. The news infuriates her mother in law, who goes off, warning that this will ruin her son’s life. Once again, dismisses her dream, triggering her worst dissociation episode ever.
finally he was able to convince her to see a psychiatrist. Through their sessions, the psychiatrist became the bridge back to her true calling… writing. And the end of her glitch. This time, she will share the stories her soul has been holding.
Kim Ji young’s story isn’t just about one woman in Korea. It’s a warning for us all, that if we give in to the societal pressures, those pressures can stop us from following our true purpose.