摘要：Using Mandelbaum’s (1973) life history analysis framework, this study analyzed the intersection of female experience, social wellbeing, gender role, and the cost of migration as a female international student in an ethnically homogenous and ethnical nationalist host country, South Korea. A cross-cultural comparison also followed to understand factors affecting belongingness and the ability to incorporate. As a result, immigrant life course dimensions are affected by extremities of cultural nearness or distance, cultural fluency or disfluency, positive cultural experience, intense ethnic and cultural contact, and the existence of a diaspora. The emigration to Korea and structural systems significantly turn the female immigrants’ course of life. Adaptation and belongingness are also affected by a desire for an abundant “Korean” cultural experience, rare cultural contact, code-switching, or indifference for a cultural experience. A comparative look at the experiences also produced common and different patterns based on the cultural origin of the students. Overall, the distinct ethnic characteristics of Korea as a host not only created a demanding assimilation (a strong pull to Korean ethnic identity assumed roles) but it also brought a unique and transforming female and belongingness experience. As migration may redirect or reward female gender roles, this study points to a proper discussion to understand the relativity of female experience within a distinctive and culturally demanding host country.
