The Island of Sea Women

Published in 2019, Lisa See’s “The Island of Sea Women” is a magnificent and moving historical novel centered on the “haenyeo”—the iconic female divers of Korea’s Jeju Island. The narrative spans several decades, beginning in the 1930s during the Japanese colonial era, moving through World War II and the Korean War, and concluding in the present day. At its heart is the complex relationship between two girls, Young-sook and Mi-ja, whose lives are defined by friendship, betrayal, and the long struggle toward forgiveness. See builds this story on meticulous research, vividly depicting a unique matrilineal culture and the indomitable spirit of women buffeted by the violent winds of history.

Lisa See, an author whose work often explores the history, relationships, and hidden secrets of Asian women, brings her signature skill for portraying feminine bonds and resistance to this novel. Much like in her breakthrough book “Snow Flower and the Secret Fan,” See focuses on the intimate connections and specialized languages developed within women-only spaces. To write this book, she traveled to Jeju Island, conducting field research and interviews with actual haenyeo to understand not only their diving techniques but also their deep spiritual connections and communal structures.

The core of the story lies in the specific social structure of Jeju Island. For centuries, the island maintained a unique system where women served as the primary breadwinners by diving for seafood, while men often managed the household and childcare. Young-sook and Mi-ja grow up in this proud community, learning the dangerous trade of the haenyeo. See provides raw, visceral descriptions of the physical toll of their work—diving deep without oxygen tanks and controlling their breath in extreme conditions. Their labor is presented as more than just an economic activity; it is a manifestation of profound “sisterhood” where divers literally entrust their lives to one another.

However, this female solidarity is repeatedly challenged and torn apart by external political violence. During the Japanese colonial era, the haenyeo organized significant protests against oppressive taxes and exploitation. See skillfully weaves historical fact into her fiction, showing how these women fought to protect their rights and dignity. Their struggle can be read as an early form of intersectional feminist activism, as they defended their culture, their territory, and their identities against multiple layers of oppression.

In the latter half of the book, the “Jeju April 3rd incident”—one of the most painful episodes in Korean history—plays a pivotal role. This horrific massacre, occurring in the late 1940s and early 50s, resulted in the loss of countless island lives and created a definitive rift in the friendship between Young-sook and Mi-ja. See depicts with unflinching clarity how state power and clashing ideologies destroy individual lives and force women into unbearable suffering and silence. This historical trauma is etched deeply into the hearts of the survivors and passed down through generations.

From a feminist perspective, “The Island of Sea Women” is multilayered. The existence of the haenyeo itself—embodying physical strength and economic independence—fundamentally challenges traditional views of the submissive woman. They are seen as goddesses of the sea, warriors, and heads of households. Furthermore, the haenyeo cooperatives (gye) depicted in the novel are excellent examples of political and economic organization by women, demonstrating the wisdom of how a community can support and protect its marginalized members.

The relationship between Young-sook and Mi-ja is more than a simple story of friendship. It is a complex exploration of how social status, family background, and choices made in extreme circumstances test personal ethics and bonds. While Mi-ja carries the burden of being the daughter of a Japanese collaborator, Young-sook strives to uphold her pride as a leader. Lisa See honestly portrays the jealousy, hatred, and decades of silence that grow between the two women, eventually confronting the reader with the profound spiritual question of how forgiveness is possible after such deep wounds.

Furthermore, the novel provides an intersectional lens by highlighting the particularities of Jeju Island. Identities as islanders, roles as women, and realities as oppressed subjects under colonial rule intertwine to give Jeju women their unique combination of strength and vulnerability. See’s descriptions of the island—the black volcanic coastline, the orange floats, and the distinctive “sumbisori” (the whistling sound of a haenyeo exhaling)—resonate as a cry of the soul.

From a mental health perspective, the book is a story of “han” (a deep, collective sorrow) and the resilience required to sublimate it. The women of Jeju, after losing families and experiencing the horrors of war, repeatedly returned to the sea to rebuild their lives. Their journey conveys the dignity of surviving in spite of trauma and the healing power of community care. See carefully depicts the process through which the modern-day Young-sook heals her past wounds through dialogue with her granddaughter, emphasizing the importance of intergenerational understanding.

“The Island of Sea Women” is an important literary effort to bring the stories of nameless women—often reduced to a single line in history books—into the official record. Lisa See is conscious of how history is frequently written from a male-centric viewpoint, excluding the contributions and sufferings of women, and she fills this void with rich imagination and a sure hand. By looking at modern efforts to preserve the haenyeo as a cultural heritage, the novel culminates in a universal question about the nature of female life-force.

In conclusion, this work is as powerful as the surging seas of Jeju, leaving a deep and resonant after-impact. It is not merely an exotic tale, but a supreme homage to women who, in the storms of oppression, war, and sexism, take each other’s hands, find their breath, and dive once more into the deep blue world. Through the lives of Young-sook and Mi-ja, readers are brought face-to-face with the weight of history and the breathtaking beauty of the human spirit that refuses to bend before it.