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Comfort Woman Maria Rosa Henson

Comfort Woman By Maria Rosa Henson

Comfort Woman by Maria Rosa Henson


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Summary

In 1943, 15-year-old Maria Rosa Henson was taken by Japanese soldiers occupying the Philippines and forced into prostitution as a "comfort woman." Now with a new introduction and foreword that assess the ongoing controversy over comfort women, her powerful memoir will be essential reading for all those concerned with violence against women.

Comfort Woman Summary

Comfort Woman: A Filipina's Story of Prostitution and Slavery under the Japanese Military by Maria Rosa Henson

From Comfort Woman: "We began the day with breakfast, after which we swept and cleaned our rooms. Then we went to the bathroom downstairs to wash the only dress we had and to bathe. The bathroom did not even have a door, so the soldiers watched us. We were all naked, and they laughed at us, especially me and the other young girl who did not have any pubic hair. "At two, the soldiers came. My work began, and I lay down as one by one the soldiers raped me. Every day, anywhere from twelve to over twenty soldiers assaulted me. There were times when there were as many as thirty; they came to the garrison in truckloads." "I lay on the bed with my knees up and my feet on the mat, as if I were giving birth. Whenever the soldiers did not feel satisfied, they vented their anger on me. Every day, there were incidents of violence and humiliation. When the soldiers raped me, I felt like a pig. Sometimes they tied up my right leg with a waist band or a belt and hung it on a nail in the wall as they violated me. "I shook all over. I felt my blood turn white. I heard that there was a group called the Task Force on Filipino Comfort Women looking for women like me. I could not forget the words that blared out of the radio that day: 'Don't be ashamed, being a sex slave is not your fault. It is the responsibility of the Japanese Imperial Army. Stand up and fight for your rights.'" In April 1943, fifteen-year-old Maria Rosa Henson was taken by Japanese soldiers occupying the Philippines and forced into prostitution as a "comfort woman." In this simply told yet powerfully moving autobiography, Rosa recalls her childhood as the illegitimate daughter of a wealthy landowner, her work for Huk guerrillas, her wartime ordeal, and her marriage to a rebel leader who left her to raise their children alone. Her triumph against all odds is embodied by her decision to go public with the secret she had held close for fifty years. Now in a second edition with a new introduction and foreword that bring the ongoing controversy over the comfort women to the present, this powerful memoir will be essential reading for all those concerned with violence against women.

Comfort Woman Reviews

The book's value has been increased markedly by the inclusion of Tnaka's cogent introduction that works so well in conjunction with Henson's gripping life experience. Comfort Woman will be a welcome addition to courses in Asian studies as well as women's history courses. The only problem readers may have is an emotional one. * Journal of Global South Studies *

About Maria Rosa Henson

Maria Rosa Henson, 1928-1996, was the first comfort woman to go public with her story in 1992 and fought actively until her death for justice and reparations from the Japanese government. Yuki Tanaka was research professor at the Hiroshima Peace Institute of Hiroshima City University until his retirement in 2015. Cynthia Enloe is research professor in the Department of International Development, Community, and Social Change and the Department of Women's Studies at Clark University.

Table of Contents

Foreword, Cynthia Enloe Preface, Sheila S. Coronel, Editor Introduction, Yuki Tanaka Chapter 1 My Mother, Julia Chapter 2 My Childhood Chapter 3 The War Begins Chapter 4 Comfort Woman Chapter 5 Pain and Recovery Chapter 6 My Married Life Chapter 7 Single Mother Chapter 8 Going Public Chronology

Additional information

NLS9781442273559
9781442273559
1442273550
Comfort Woman: A Filipina's Story of Prostitution and Slavery under the Japanese Military by Maria Rosa Henson
New
Paperback
Rowman & Littlefield
2016-09-22
148
N/A
Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.
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Customer Reviews - Comfort Woman