"Storm in a teacup,” meaning great outrage over a trivial matter, can apply to certain stigmas in society, as the subjects themselves are mostly trivial, yet are symbolically a big deal, considered offensive or sacred in certain cultures or societies. For this month’s Voice on Campus article, The Granite Tower (GT) asked several Korean and international Korea University (KU) students about their thoughts on taboos and superstitions. The following are the questions asked:
➊ What is a taboo subject in your culture and why do you think it is taboo? Should it no longer be taboo? ➋ What is a superstition you used to have or still have?
Kim Seonwoo (’22, Media and Communication) from South Korea
➊ I believe that politics is a taboo subject in our society – this is because in a society where [political polarization] is extreme, if thoughts on politics diverge, fierce debate or uncomfortable situations may occur…I think that political topics should continue to be taboo during socializing, as people have different values, beliefs, and interests, and their political views change accordingly, so it is inevitable that people disagree on politics. Rather than confirming that each other’s opinions are sharply divided during socializing, it is better to strengthen friendship by talking about [commonly shared] topics. If we have to talk, we should respect each other’s political differences, be more open to different ideas, and listen to each other’s thoughts and opinions.
➋ I used to believe that you could see ghosts when “scissor locked” [sleep paralysis]. I’ve never actually seen a ghost when I got scissor locked. But whenever I do, I’m afraid I’ll see ghosts. So, I try to wake up from it by desperately moving my hands and feet. I remember that I came to have this superstition from listening to my friends’ experiences of actually seeing ghosts, or reading books and watching videos of urban ghost stories.
Sanjey Kumar (’19, Life Sciences) from India
➊ In order to have a legitimate discussion about sex or sexuality, I need people who might share the same opinions about it as me. Beyond that bubble, I have realized, it might induce discomfort in the other person or persons I am attempting to have said discussion with. I come from the land of Kamasutra, where they believe that being blessed by the “third gender” is lucky. But having been through almost 200 years of colonialism by the British, Indians seem to have adopted some of the western cultures’ colonial mindsets. Without discussing matters regarding sex, people lose an opportunity to learn about the possibilities.
➋ Although I never had these superstitions, these are misconceptions that arise from a lack of sex education: “Kissing can make me pregnant.” “I thought I was having wet dreams because I had cancer.” [These beliefs] simply lead to an unintended form of ignorance... Somewhere out there, there is a young boy who feels attracted to a person of the same gender, but cannot pinpoint that as a trait of his sexuality as he simply does not know of such a possibility. Without giving this boy the awareness that he needs, we are only pushing him down a rabbit hole that might very well lead to anxiety, depression, identity crises, and possibly even self-harm. This is where sex education comes into play. This is hardly the tip of this massive iceberg, but I hope that the taboo in sex and sexuality is eventually abolished.
Léonard Vuilleumier (’21, Architecture) from Switzerland
➊ In Switzerland, money has been taboo for a long time. Money is related to needs and ambitions, which are qualities that Swiss people do not want to express, as this would result in conflicts, the archenemy of a country whose social cement is consensus. I think that discussing money more openly in Switzerland would be beneficial; first, being able to talk about your wage, rent, et cetera, would reduce the asymmetry of information between employers and [employees.] Second, being able to openly discuss your economic situation would relieve one’s mental burden. Some still feel as though it’s something shameful that you should hide from your parents. Money can also be a burden when people feel that you are too rich and “showing off” through subtle signs of wealth, like wine choices or car brands. Some people might feel uncomfortable talking honestly with people of a different social status, which reduces social dialogue.
➋ A friend once asked me if it’s true that Swiss people will always sleep with their windows closed, no matter how hot, which intrigued me because my family does the exact opposite. I later found that Swiss psychoanalyst Carl Gustav Jung wrote that a long time ago in Switzerland’s countryside, it was believed that there were harmful spirits outside at night. Modern society’s extreme rationalism has brushed away this belief in spirits and nowadays, closing your windows or not at night will be dictated by nothing else than thermal comfort. This illustrates why I think there is no answer to the question “are you superstitious?” as superstition is not a belief but a psychological reality.
Ha Jiwoo (’21, Economics) from South Korea
➊ Things have gotten better, but sexuality is still generally considered a taboo subject in Korea. I think that it stems from a mix of factors. Partly because of our Confucianist cultural heritage from the Joseon era that imposes sexual puritanism, as well as our recent experience of military dictatorship from the 1960s to 1980s, which was always quick to censor self-expression and the arts, as well as anything “controversial.” As a result, sexuality has always been muted, considered an embarrassing topic that needs to be hastily swept under the rug. The issue is that just like death, sexuality is an important part of life. The more you censor things related to sex, the more it becomes a blind spot in society, becoming perverted and warped in an unhealthy way. There needs to be more discourse on where we need to go from here.
➋ When I was younger, my grandma scolded me for turning on the fan before going to sleep, because we had a superstition that sleeping with the fan on during the night could result in death. In Korea most fans are still sold with a timer attached due to this. It makes no sense, but she said the fan cuts down the air particles. I believed that for the longest time.
