“You should be more careful out there,” the doctor says. “You have a dangerous job. I mean, do you see men doing it?” “Of course not!” Young-sook exclaims. “The world knows that the cold water will cause their penises to shrivel and die.” The doctor shakes her head and laughs.” HumorHaenyeoSea Women Book:The Island of Sea Women Source: The Island of Sea Women
“Every woman who enters the sea carries a coffin on her back,” she warned the gathering. “In this world, in the undersea world, we tow the burdens of a hard life. We are crossing between life and death every day.” These traditional words were often repeated on Jeju, but we all nodded somberly as though hearing them for the first time. “When we go to the sea, we share the work and the danger,” Mother added. “We harvest together, sort together, and sell together, because the sea itself is communal.” WomenThe SeaCommunal LifeHaenyeoJejuSea Women Book:The Island of Sea Women Source: The Island of Sea Women