Sexual Enslavement in Asia: What You are Missing About WWII
By Samantha Weitzel
History classes in America always cover, in detail, the fatalities and casualties of World War II. The Allied and Axis powers are studied extensively, and each battle is learned by name. Buried beneath these statistics and descriptions are another group of victims from the second World War that rarely get mentioned: the comfort women.
The term “comfort women” is a euphemism used to name the women conscripted by the Japanese army in WWII to provide the members of the military with sexual services [1]. Other terms, such as sex slaves, are used to convey the full extent of the horrific nature of this system. Korean women were primarily drafted as comfort women, and Taiwanese and Japanese women were also readily available [1]. While data from this period is limited, it is estimated that 20,000 comfort women were conscripted [1]. The service officially ended with victory for the Allies, but for the women, it was inescapable.
The rationale for the creation of the comfort women system and its structure provided consideration only for the morale and desires of the military men [2]. The soldiers preferred using Korean women due to their inexperience and younger age, and using non-Japanese women reduced the risk of demoralization if one were to see a family member working as a comfort woman. Years before in another Japanese war, the military carried out a large-scale raping of women in newly occupied territory, and instead of avoiding this violent and inhumane situation entirely, the comfort women system was created to allow for control over the sexual behaviors of the soldiers [2].
Reading testimonials and accounts of the comfort women system from women forced into it provides the most effective and true information about the terror and pain the military’s system inflicted. Chong Ok-sun was kidnapped by a solider at the early age of 13 and could seek no solace with the police officials who also beat and raped her [3]. She recounted her day-to-day life, which included servicing up to 40 men, and any protest/complaint was met with gagging, burning, and other forms of torture.
STDs ran rampant through the military camps and seeking treatment from the camp doctor usually resulted in rape by the medical professionals as well [1]. There was no escape from constant sexual and physical abuse as a comfort woman. Failing frequent medical examinations could also result in execution, and punishment always followed the accidental STD transmission to a soldier. The courage of these women to endure a never-ending cycle of violence, punishment, and pain that still has a tight grip is immeasurable.
Even when the system came to an official stop when Japan lost the war, many comfort women lost their lives through death or through shame. Some women were executed after retreat from a losing battle, and many died in attacks by the Allies. Many women also committed suicide rather than surrender to the Allies. For the women that were alive at the conclusion of the war, the lasting pain and shame has led to most remaining unmarried or celibate for life [4]. Kum Jum-hwang was kidnapped at the age of 17 to serve as a comfort woman, and in present time, her intestines have been completely removed [3]. The astronomical number of infections resulted in a need for drastic surgery, and Kum has not had sex since then due to the pain and shame associated with that experience.
While the comfort women system has been disbanded for decades, the overall effects are still seen on an individual (as discussed previously) and on a more collective scale. The South Korean and Japanese governments have been discussing this system in court. A previous court ruling required that Japan accept legal responsibility for its perpetuation of a system of sexual enslavement. But, as of April 21, 2021, the South Korean court dismissed claims against Japan, freeing them from the obligation of paying damages and reparations to the affected women [5].
The main takeaway from these present-day proceedings is that justice has still not been officially granted for the victims of the comfort women system. Even decades later, trauma and pain still permeate the lives of those involved, and no government has offered support through this trauma. The comfort women system is a neglected piece of history from WWII that has left a trail of abuse and injustice in its wake. It is the hope of the victims and those close to them that justice be delivered. This horrific system is a tainted part of history that must be addressed, acknowledged, and never forgotten.
The Origins and Implementation of the Comfort Women System. www.e-ir.info/pdf/76820.
Natale, Fabiana. “Weaponization of Female Bodies - Part I, ‘Comfort Women.’” The Security Distillery, The Security Distillery, 3 May 2021, thesecuritydistillery.org/all-articles/weaponization-of-female-bodies-part-I-comfort-women.
Fisher, Max. “Life as a ‘Comfort Woman’: Survivors Remember a WWII Atrocity That Was Ignored for Decades.” Vox, Vox, 29 Dec. 2015, www.vox.com/2015/12/29/10682830/comfort-women-japan-survivors.
The Life in Comfort Stations, www.awf.or.jp/e1/facts-12.html.
“South Korea: Disappointing Japan Ruling Fails to Deliver Justice to 'Comfort Women'.” Amnesty International, 7 Jan. 2022, www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2021/04/south-korea-disappointing-japan-ruling-fails-to-deliver-justice-to-comfort-women/.