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2017 California H-SS Framework

“Comfort Women” Passage  

Background
The 2017 California History-Social Science (H-SS) Framework includes content on “comfort women.”  This signifies the need to learn more from this crime against humanity in relation to World War II in Asia, as well as to consider its relevance to the past and present. The draft adopted on July 14, 2016 added a link to the 2015 “comfort women” agreement from the Japanese MOFA. Since the agreement is presented as “final and irreversible,” it can mislead educators into believing that the matter has been settled unequivocally, while in reality this agreement excluded the views of victims and was made in secret as the Special Task Force of South Korea reported on December 27, 2017. 

The final draft of the passage published in 2017 includes links to both the Japanese and South Korean MOFA sites. Placed in the 10th grade 2017 H-SS Framework section 10.8—titled “Causes and Consequences of WWII”—after the question “How was the war mobilized on different fronts?”, it offers an important opportunity to teach students about the devastating impact of WWII in Asia. This topic provides: 1) more comprehensive historical understanding of WWII in different Asian countries, from where many California students’ families originate; 2) awareness of women’s rights and dignity in the context of institutionalized sexual slavery; and 3) examples of the impact of civic engagement, including strengthening the #MeToo movement. Compared to drug and gun trades, which are on a one-time basis, sex trafficking is considered more “profitable” because the victims remain captive and at the mercy of the traffickers’ demands. Consequently, girls and women are extremely vulnerable targets in both armed and non-armed conflict areas.  The fact that such inhumane crimes continue to destroy girls’ and women’s lives makes this topic gravely important and critically relevant to teach in today’s classrooms.
​
  • 2017 California History-Social Science (H-SS) Framework Draft Proposed Before July 14, 2016
“Comfort Women,” a euphemism for sexual slaves, were taken by the Japanese Army in occupied territories before and during the war. “Comfort Women” can be taught as an example of institutionalized sexual slavery, and one of the largest cases of human trafficking in the twentieth century; estimates on the total number of comfort women vary, but most argue that hundreds of thousands of women were forced into these situations during Japanese occupation.
  • 2017 California History-Social Science (H-SS) Framework Draft Adopted Draft on July 14, 2016
“Comfort Women,” a euphemism for sexual slaves, were taken by the Japanese Army in occupied territories before and during the war. “Comfort Women” can be taught as an example of institutionalized sexual slavery; estimates on the total number of comfort women vary, but most argue that hundreds of thousands of women were forced into these situations during Japanese occupation. On December 28, 2015, the government of Japan and the Republic of Korea entered into an agreement regarding the issue of comfort women. This document can be found at http://www.mofa.go.jp/a_o/na/kr/page4e_000364.html
  • 2017 California History-Social Science (H-SS) Framework Published Draft, June 2017
“Comfort Women” is a euphemism that describes women who were forced into sexual service by the Japanese Army in occupied territories before and during the war. Comfort Women can be taught as an example of institutionalized sexual slavery; estimates on the total number of Comfort Women vary, but most argue that hundreds of thousands of women were forced into these situations during Japanese occupation. On December 28, 2015, the governments of Japan and the Republic of Korea entered into an agreement regarding the issues of Comfort Women. Two translations of this document can be found at http://www.mofa.go. jp/a_o/na/kr/page4e_000364.html (accessed June 29, 2017) and http://www.mofa. go.kr/ENG/press/ministrynews/20151228/1_71575.jsp?menu=m_10_10 (accessed June 29, 2017).

Using Framework to Teach “Comfort Women” History and Issues
The 2017 California H-SS Framework[2] strongly emphasizes several areas: providing greater content knowledge; inquiry-based critical thinking skills in connection with multiple disciplines; stronger literacy skills; and citizenship that promotes human rights and democratic values in the history and social sciences curriculum. In terms of content knowledge, the framework encourages more inclusive history curriculum, reflective of California’s rich diversity. According to the California History-Social Science Project, a lead author of the new H-SS Framework, 21.6 percent of the total school enrollment in California’s public schools (2012–2013) was classified as English learners. This signifies how necessary it is to provide students with more content-specific informational texts that are relevant to and reflective of diverse populations. The history of “comfort women” included in the 10th grade 2017 H-SS Framework is relevant to tragedies that destroyed the lives of women and girls in many countries, including Bangladesh, Bosnia, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Human trafficking and sexual slavery are currently affecting the female populations of but not limited to Yazidis, Rohingya, and Haitians. In order to study this history in relation to today and with a more inclusive curriculum, this resource guide provides teachers with primary and secondary resources, questions, and relevant topics to encourage students to develop their analytical and critical thinking skills as well as comparative thinking strategies. Students will develop historical thinking skills, a deeper understanding of the issues, and realize the importance of civic engagement by: comparing and contrasting causes and consequences of war crimes; the vastly different historical accounts of the perpetrators versus the victims; and the political interests of countries involved.

[1] California Department of Education History-Social Science Framework for California Public Schools : Kindergarten Through Grade Twelve, Sacramento, 2017, p. 353.

[2] California Department of Education History- Social Science Framework for California Public Schools: Kindergarten Through Grade Twelve, Sacramento, 2017.
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  • Home
    • About Us >
      • About Chiba Korean Elementary Middle School >
        • Student Art Exchange Program between Chiba and S.F.
        • ESJF Statement: “After ‘Lack of Freedom of Expression?’” Shut Down to Suppress Freedom of Expression
        • Letter to Aichi Prefectural Triennale Promotion Office
    • Contact Us >
      • Workshop and Lecture Request
    • Blog
    • ESJF in the News
  • Topics
    • "Comfort Women" History and Issues >
      • 2000 Women’s International War Crimes Tribunal on Japan’s Military Sexual Slavery
      • 2015 "Comfort Women" Agreement
      • Historic Lawsuits related to Japanese military sexual slavery before and during WWII >
        • Sung Sohn's Essay with commentaries and statement
      • Reports and Papers on Sexual Violence & Slavery
    • HISTORY and Issues Surrounding ASIAN DIASPORA in the United States
    • Medical Atrocities and Ethics
  • Educator Resources
    • "Comfort Women" History and Issues >
      • Primary Source Documents: "Comfort Women" History and Issues >
        • Concerning the Recruitment of Women for Military Comfort Stations
        • Psychological Warfare Interrogation Report No. 49
        • Psychological Warfare Interrogation Bulletin No. 2
        • SEATIC Psychological Warfare Bulletin No. 182
        • G-3 Daily Dairy
        • C.B.I. Roundup
        • Allied Translator and Interpreter Section (ATIS) No. 470
        • Research Report No. 120: Amenities in the Japanese Armed Forces
        • Photographs
        • San Francisco Local History >
          • Reflection and Chronology: Eric Mar
          • Reflection: Steven Whyte & Ellen Wilson
          • Chronology: Teaching "Comfort Women" History from the 1990s to Present
      • Secondary Source Documents/ Further Resources: "Comfort Women" History and Issues >
        • Secondary Resource References
        • International Joint Statement, January 7, 2018
        • International Joint Statement, October 6, 2018
        • International Joint Statement, March 1, 2019
        • International Joint Statement, August 14, 2019
        • ESJF Statement on the South Korea Court’s ruling, January 8, 2021
      • Historical Background
      • Victims' Testimonies >
        • Korea
        • China
        • Philippines
        • Indonesia
        • Netherlands
        • Japan
      • 2017 CA H-SS Framework >
        • Basic questions surrounding the Japanese Military Sexual Slavery System
      • Lesson Plans: "Comfort Women" History and Issues >
        • ​Reality and trauma of military sexual slavery
        • Denial of legal and historical responsibility
        • ​Remembering and honoring "comfort women"
        • A Global plague
        • Collective activism
        • Contemporary movements towards justice
        • Sexual and medical violence against Blacks
      • Worksheets
      • Activity Sheets
      • Map of Memorials in the United States
      • Peace Girl Statue
      • 2017 Special Task Force Report on 2015 "Comfort Women" Agreement between S. Korea and Japan
      • YouTube >
        • First Video Footage of Korean "Comfort Women": July, 2017
        • First Video Footage of Mass Murdered "Comfort Women": Feb. 2018
        • Animation Herstory
        • Justice for the victims of the Japanese military “comfort women” system
        • Life as a "Comfort Woman": Story of Kim Bok-Dong
        • Meet Estelita Dy: A Filipino "Comfort Woman" Survivor
        • Wednesday Rally
        • 2015 "Comfort Women" Agreement and Victims' Reaction
        • 2018 International "Comfort Women" Day
    • HISTORY and Issues Surrounding ASIAN DIASPORA in the United States >
      • K-5
      • 6-8
      • 9-12
      • Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center
    • Medical Atrocities and Ethics >
      • Asia >
        • Video Footage for Classroom
        • Primary Source Documents: Medical Atrocities and Ethics
        • Secondary Source Documents: Medical Atrocities and Ethics
        • Lesson Plans
      • Europe >
        • Lesson Plans
      • United States >
        • Lesson Plans
  • Our Publications
    • "Comfort Women" History and Issues >
      • Teacher Resource Guide >
        • How to Order
      • Student Resource Guide >
        • How to Order
    • Medical Atrocities and Ethics >
      • Asia
      • Europe
      • United States
  • Professional Development Events
  • Partners
  • Give