济州岛海女：潜入海洋的千年女性传统
On the volcanic shores of Jeju Island, South Korea, a group of women in black wetsuits takes a collective breath and plunges into the cold sea. They are the haenyeo — female divers who harvest abalone, sea urchins and octopus without using oxygen tanks. This tradition, which dates back centuries, is a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage, and it represents one of the world’s most remarkable examples of matriarchal labor.
Unlike many fishing cultures where men dominate, Jeju’s haenyeo have long been the primary breadwinners. Young girls used to start training at age eight, holding their breath for over two minutes while diving as deep as twenty meters. The work is brutal: chronic ear infections, joint pain and hypothermia are common risks. Yet the haenyeo have historically enjoyed higher social status than mainland Korean women, often managing family finances and village affairs.
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