The Color of Earth is a trilogy of graphic novels set in mid-20th century rural Korea, loosely based on the author's mother's life. It finds itself at number 2 on the 2011 Banned Books List. It follows Ehwa, a young girl coming of age with her widowed mother. Together, they navigate poverty, famine, and other hardships among the beautiful Korean countryside.
The first volume centers on Ehwa as a young girl discovering adolescence and her budding sexuality. She begins experiencing her first crush and romantic awakenings through friendship with a local boy. Ehwa also learns about puberty and sexuality from her mother, who imparts wisdom through funny and sometimes explicit conversations.
The second volume picks up with a teenage Ehwa working through painful romantic disillusionment after her crush marries another girl. As she matures, Ehwa grapples with gender roles in her Confucian society and finds herself at odds with traditional expectations for women to be passive and chaste. Her mother again guides her with a liberal, feminist perspective.
The final volume sees adult Ehwa reflecting on coming of age and her mother's lasting influence. The series ends with her preparing to move to the city to start a career and embrace the future ahead.
Throughout the trilogy, the color in the title symbolizes awakening to the sensations and colors of life and womanhood. With humor and emotional depth, The Color of Earth sensitively explores universal themes of growing up, mother-daughter bonds, gender identity, and finding one’s place in the world.
So what’s the problem?
The Color of Earth series does contain occasional nude scenes as well as frank discussions of sexuality that led to some challenges, but these elements serve important purposes.
The nudity mainly involves the mother bathing naturally, which provides an admirable message about positive body image. For example, when Ehwa feels ashamed about her developing breasts, her mother reassures her it's normal by casually bathing nude. The depictions promote body acceptance, not titillation.
The mother also educates Ehwa about sex and menstruation in honest conversations some view as inappropriate for young readers. However, this models open, empowering discussions about sexual health that combat stigmas.
While explicit at times, these sex education moments arm Ehwa with knowledge about her changing body and emotions. The upfront advice guides rather than corrupts.
Importantly, the series explores Ehwa’s budding sexuality and romance in ways that validate her autonomy over her own body and choices. This sex-positive feminism provides a progressive model.
Some nudity and sexual content may make parents uncomfortable. But avoiding these realities of life promotes ignorance, shame, and repression. Portraying adolescent sexuality and bodies as natural and healthy, as this series daringly does, fosters positive development.
Efforts to shield young readers from candid sex education sustain cultural taboos. Keeping The Color of Earth widely accessible provides an enlightened example of how to address sexuality honestly yet thoughtfully.
The AutSide is a reader-supported publication. To support my work, consider becoming a paid subscriber.
I'd never heard of these books, and they sound fascinating! Thank you for writing about them.
I would guess that it is the anti-shaming, body positive approach you mention, more than sexual references in general, that get these books banned.
Shame is a powerful tool of oppression. Those in favor of banning books want shame to remain normalized. It's so much easier to control people who carry internalized shame.
I'd never heard of these books, and they sound fascinating! Thank you for writing about them.
I would guess that it is the anti-shaming, body positive approach you mention, more than sexual references in general, that get these books banned.
Shame is a powerful tool of oppression. Those in favor of banning books want shame to remain normalized. It's so much easier to control people who carry internalized shame.