Transgenerational Trauma Analysis

1734 Words7 Pages

The author, Cho highlights the transgenerational trauma experienced by Korean comfort women during WWII; known as yanggongju’s, she regards them as agents and role models since they were able to provide for others by working within these comfort camps. In hindsight, the author incorporates her experience of being a child born from a military bride and how the transgenerational haunting of WWII brothel camps is affecting her life.Thus, the readings emphasize the struggles and victimization that is been passed throughout generations. Grace. M. Cho is an associate professor of Sociology, Anthropology and women 's studies at the University of New York City with a Ph.D. in Sociology and Women 's Studies. Themes War as an opportunity is a prominent …show more content…

This gave readers a chance to witness how transgenerational trauma from WWII is still affecting people today. Having the author relate on a personal level for this subject made the essay an interesting read. Furthermore, the strengths lied within the interviews and quotes provided; these gave an in-depth meaning and example of how the trauma WWII varied by experience. As much strengths, this article has, it also provides just as many weaknesses. For one, the title of this article barely correlates to what the essay talks about. The Diaspora of Camptown: The Forgotten War’s Monstrous Family is the title, yet the article does not give as much background as to why there was a diaspora in Camptown in the first place, or how there was a forgotten internal war at this site, to begin with. The title lacked correlation to what the essay is written about; instead, the title of this essay should be: The threats within Camptown: The trauma experienced by women as agents and victims of Korea WWII. Thus, with this, the readers would not be misled as to what they 're about to read. In addition, even though this essay used subtitles, the essay was confusing to read. In an instant, Cho will go on talk about her childhood and experience, then jumped back in time to talk about the deaths of Korean prostitutes and how they were socially outcasted to then quoting a page in a book. The author could …show more content…

For example, many Korean women choose to kill themselves because of the connotation and shame that surrounded them for being a ‘Comfort Women’. Instead of facing society outside of the walls of the camps they chose to commit suicide. While others working in the same camps died from being infected with venereal disease, given to them by their clients. (p.290). Women as agents are seen within the Korean Council in 1990, which was organized to aid those who were drafted to become sex slaves or prostitutes to the Japanese army. This organization advocated for peace and to advocate the injustice that Korean sex slaves experienced. The Asian women Fund (AWF) is an organization built to help comfort women to reclaim their honour and to help them to receive compensation for their pain and suffering. As well as, the weekly demonstration that the Korean Council enacts in front the Japanese Embassy in Seoul is an example of agency and women exercising their strengths to fight for what they believe