"Sex Among Allies, Military Prostitution in U.S. - Korea Relations" by Katharine H.S. Moon

The thing that saddened me most about the introduction to Moon's book was Korean society's embarrassment at what their economy and culture has forced some women into. Moon says that many women turn to prostitution because they are orphaned or widowed by war, or come from extremely poor families. Korean society dictates that prostitution is something terrible but at the same time seem to condone it for its military relations. It is hypocritical to banish prostitutes from accepted society but still condone the bars and clubs that market women. 

Before reading this article, I knew about military and prostitute relations and that they were common. But reading the stories and first-hand accounts of abortions, miniscule wages gave the whole thing a new sort of reality. In the "Hospitality - What Price" article I was really struck by the account of Inday, the mother of Maria. Because she couldn't work after the 5 month mark of her pregnancy, she couldn't afford a caesarean in order to save her child, nor drugs to dull the pain. I couldn't get over the treatment by the doctors and nurses and that they discharged her from the hospital when she so clearly needed help. The conditions that the Korean prostitutes must live under are horrifying. As a last resort they rely on their beauty and sexuality for survival and in turn must be ignored by traditional society. 

The whole dynamic of the situation upset me. That society forces women into these careers and then ostracizes them for their choices. The military and the Korean government and society are all equally responsible for the awful situation forced on the poor women of Korea, and should take responsibility and begin working towards a solution.