The US Military–Prostitution Complex, Patriarchy, and Masculinity

Abstract

The US military–prostitution complex is a form of institutionalized sexual exploitation of women around American bases located worldwide. From the historical World War II “comfort women” in Japan to the Korean War “camptowns” used for service members’ rest and recreation and the current phenomena of global sex tourism and sex trafficking, the US military has played a role in not only imperialism and attempts at global domination but also the objectification of women. A feminist transnational perspective renders the patriarchy and hypermasculine military culture that involves an “othering” of women and examines the abuse of power in gender relations from an international and militaristic lens. Women, regardless of social and economic status, race/ethnicity, or nationality, can empower themselves to take action through various grassroots network organizations to resist militarism in its various forms, advocate for equity, and promote justice for women and girls worldwide.