This paper is to focus on aspects of changes in feminine consciousness in Choseon by looking into various modalities of feminine consciousness described explicitly and implicitly in boudoir songs lamenting the lives of women from the perspectives of independent female beings. Words used in boudoir songs bewailing women's destinies are analyzed here to consider the expressive aspects of feminine consciousness in premodern and modern times and to review the characteristics of expression of feminine consciousness found in literary works.
To begin with, expressive aspects of premodern feminine consciousness found in the words of boudoir songs are explored. In lieu of destined feminine consciousness that goes with and accept given fates, conflicting feminine consciousness of subjective women raises skepticism and questions in regard of women's existence and perceives negative aspects of Confucian order prevailing in those days. In addition, the feminine consciousness yearns for liberty available only to men in male-oriented society rather than just pitying themselves or sitting around envying the other side. These aspects of changes are attributable to awakening feminine consciousness, insights and awareness of the unfair treatment and reality and the circumstances peculiar to Choseon society.
Next, expressive aspects of modern feminine consciousness are explored. Those expressions of feminine consciousness bring home to women that the reality is full of contradictions, leading them to enlightenment and progressive attitude. Furthermore, changing feminine consciousness extends into universal human being and assumes critical thinking, open-mindedness and activeness toward accepting new cultural objects. At the same time, participatory feminine consciousness enables women to participate in political and national affairs. Getting conscious of reality resulting from self-awakening leads to criticism on contradictory social systems, and furthers women's awareness and retrieval of their human rights.
Lastly, literary works of boudoir songs are reviewed to identify corresponding feminine consciousness aforesaid. To expound the flow of feminine consciousness in the context of literary works, extensive subjects in the words of boudoir songs are considered through poetic narrators and discourse patterns, and diversified expressive techniques are also covered. In the feudal society, women are not allowed to even dream of doing cultural and social activities, when they acquire Hangeul, though ignored by men, which renders them capable of singing grievances and lamentation earnestly. Over time, their words of lamentation accumulate into songs, which, in turn, gives birth to a literary genre called boudoir songs.
As mentioned above, women in those days seem to have gradually become aware of their existence as a human and critically revealed their presence by lamenting their lives and destinies through words and songs of their own making even in the closed circumstances, which can be referred to as an advancement in feminine consciousness. Moreover, boudoir words and songs seem to have infused women with new consciousness in Choseon during the collapse of feudal society, contributing to establishing the value of boudoir poems as a literary genre. As of now, however, studies on boudoir poems and songs lamenting women's lives are no more than overviews and remain insufficient. Hopefully, research efforts in relation to boudoir literature will be furthered, particularly, either on relations between poetic narrators and feminine consciousness or on the association of feminine consciousness with expressive techniques, which are worth exploring in detail.