STUDENT RESOURCE GUIDE
“Comfort Women” History and Issues: Student Resource Guide, Second Edition
Author: Sung Sohn
Contributors: Christina Tang, Faye Kwan, Eric Mar, Steven Whyte & Ellen Wilson
Many students have never heard of “comfort women,” a euphemism for former Japanese military sex slaves who are still fighting for justice. “Comfort Women” History and Issues: Student Resource Guide (2nd ed.) exposes young people to this often overlooked and complex piece of history. Intended to empower students and increase civic engagement, this edition will enable students to gain a more comprehensive and accurate understanding of this chilling, systemic violation of human rights intersected with imperialism and various forms of discrimination. The effects of this systemic, state-sanctioned military sexual enslavement of the ‘30s and ‘40s have rippled outward to other tragedies of gender-based violence in conflict and non-conflict around the globe. Open-ended questions and research topics lead students to relate “comfort women” issues to other past and current instances of injustice and form their own opinions after careful consideration. The development of critical thinking, comparative thinking, and historical empathy is encouraged through an inquiry-based approach.
This edition is comprised of five main parts:
1) The history of remembering and honoring “comfort women” through education and collective activism
2) Reflections from former San Francisco City Supervisor Eric Mar, who proposed a resolution to install a memorial for “comfort women,” and from sculptor Steven Whyte, who designed the Women’s Column of Strength, co-written by gallery director, Ellen Wilson
3) Primary source documents
4) Survivors’ testimonies from Korea, China, the Philippines, Indonesia, Japan, and the Netherlands
5) Worksheets and activity sheets
Author: Sung Sohn
Contributors: Christina Tang, Faye Kwan, Eric Mar, Steven Whyte & Ellen Wilson
Many students have never heard of “comfort women,” a euphemism for former Japanese military sex slaves who are still fighting for justice. “Comfort Women” History and Issues: Student Resource Guide (2nd ed.) exposes young people to this often overlooked and complex piece of history. Intended to empower students and increase civic engagement, this edition will enable students to gain a more comprehensive and accurate understanding of this chilling, systemic violation of human rights intersected with imperialism and various forms of discrimination. The effects of this systemic, state-sanctioned military sexual enslavement of the ‘30s and ‘40s have rippled outward to other tragedies of gender-based violence in conflict and non-conflict around the globe. Open-ended questions and research topics lead students to relate “comfort women” issues to other past and current instances of injustice and form their own opinions after careful consideration. The development of critical thinking, comparative thinking, and historical empathy is encouraged through an inquiry-based approach.
This edition is comprised of five main parts:
1) The history of remembering and honoring “comfort women” through education and collective activism
2) Reflections from former San Francisco City Supervisor Eric Mar, who proposed a resolution to install a memorial for “comfort women,” and from sculptor Steven Whyte, who designed the Women’s Column of Strength, co-written by gallery director, Ellen Wilson
3) Primary source documents
4) Survivors’ testimonies from Korea, China, the Philippines, Indonesia, Japan, and the Netherlands
5) Worksheets and activity sheets