An American Woman Missionary in Korea: Mary Scranton

Women in Wesleyan and Methodist movements during the 19-20th century seemed to actively participate in many areas. They especially took part in the feminist movement for the women, who were oppressed and marginalized, and for their civil/ecclesiastic rights. 

Warner highlights mission works of Methodist women. According to him, “[some women missionaries] made significant contribution to the education and medical care of indigenous women.” When I was reading this part, this stream in America reminded of the early history of Korean church. 

There was a woman missionary in Korea whose works were very similar with those in America at that time. Her name is Mary Fletcher Scranton, and she came to Korea in 1885 as the first Methodist woman missionary.  Her major works in Korea were also education and medical care for Korean women. At that period in Korea, there was no hospital for women to be cared, so she founded the first women-only hospital in 1886. Moreover, she also established the first women-only educational institution in 1886 named Ewha Hakdang. This now became as one of the top 10 best universities and the best women’s university in Korea: Ewha Womans University. She was the first person who started feminist movement in Korea and tried to safeguard women’s rights. 

Therefore, I thought that Mary Scranton’s works might have been affected by the movement in America, or she, as a missionary, might have brought the movement to Korea.