General comment:
J. Mark Ramseyer of Harvard Law School published a journal article in which he falsely claimed that the women and girls forced into sexual slavery by the Japanese Imperial Army had “willingly entered into contracts.” Academics, politicians, and academics alike condemned the article, noting the total lack of evidence to support Ramseyer’s claims. Scholars have also noted the parallels between Ramseyer’s arguments and those of Japanese “ultra conservatives” who refuse to acknowledge the war crimes of the Japanese Imperial Army during World War II. The article has emerged as a flashpoint in the conflict between bad-faith historical revisionists and the narratives of surviving “comfort women” and their supporters.
Key articles with links:
“Seeking the True Story of the Comfort Women: How a Harvard professor’s dubious scholarship reignited a history of mistrust between South Korea and Japan.” (New Yorker)
- Jeannie Suk Gersen examines the Ramseyer article and the international backlash against it, placing it within the historical and contemporary context of Japanese-Korean relations and highlighting the international academic community’s condemnation of the Ramseyer article.
“Harvard professor ignites uproar over ‘comfort women’ claims” (Associated Press)
- Broad overview of the Ramseyer article and the academic and advocacy responses to it.
“Harvard professor sparks outrage with claims about Japan's 'comfort women'” (The Guardian)
Other recommended readings:
In March, the Asia Pacific Journal: Japan Focus published a special issue pertaining to the “comfort women” issue, largely in response to the Ramseyer article. In a series of supplemental letters, scholars such as Professors Alexis Dudden, Carter Eckert, Andre Gordon, and Tessa Morris-Suzuki, among others, wrote responses noting the fundamental flaws in Ramseyer’s piece, with Prof. Dudden calling the Ramseyer article an “abuse of history.”
For more, see the: “Special Issue: The ‘Comfort Women’ as Public History” and “Supplement to Special Issue: Academic Integrity at Stake: The Ramseyer Article - Four Letters.”
The Harvard Crimson published several articles and editorials regarding the Ramseyer article and the activist/academic response to it. Selection below:
For more information on debunking historical denialism, refer to our dedicated page: https://cdn.womenandwar.net/kr/%ec%97%ad%ec%82%ac%eb%b6%80%ec%a0%95%eb%a1%a0-%eb%b0%98%eb%b0%95%ec%9d%84-%ec%9c%84%ed%95%9c-%ec%9e%90%eb%a3%8c-%eb%aa%a8%ec%9d%8c/
General comment:
J. Mark Ramseyer of Harvard Law School published a journal article in which he falsely claimed that the women and girls forced into sexual slavery by the Japanese Imperial Army had “willingly entered into contracts.” Academics, politicians, and academics alike condemned the article, noting the total lack of evidence to support Ramseyer’s claims. Scholars have also noted the parallels between Ramseyer’s arguments and those of Japanese “ultra conservatives” who refuse to acknowledge the war crimes of the Japanese Imperial Army during World War II. The article has emerged as a flashpoint in the conflict between bad-faith historical revisionists and the narratives of surviving “comfort women” and their supporters.
Key articles with links:
“Seeking the True Story of the Comfort Women: How a Harvard professor’s dubious scholarship reignited a history of mistrust between South Korea and Japan.” (New Yorker)
“Harvard professor ignites uproar over ‘comfort women’ claims” (Associated Press)
“Harvard professor sparks outrage with claims about Japan's 'comfort women'” (The Guardian)
Other recommended readings:
In March, the Asia Pacific Journal: Japan Focus published a special issue pertaining to the “comfort women” issue, largely in response to the Ramseyer article. In a series of supplemental letters, scholars such as Professors Alexis Dudden, Carter Eckert, Andre Gordon, and Tessa Morris-Suzuki, among others, wrote responses noting the fundamental flaws in Ramseyer’s piece, with Prof. Dudden calling the Ramseyer article an “abuse of history.”
For more, see the: “Special Issue: The ‘Comfort Women’ as Public History” and “Supplement to Special Issue: Academic Integrity at Stake: The Ramseyer Article - Four Letters.”
The Harvard Crimson published several articles and editorials regarding the Ramseyer article and the activist/academic response to it. Selection below:
For more information on debunking historical denialism, refer to our dedicated page: https://cdn.womenandwar.net/kr/%ec%97%ad%ec%82%ac%eb%b6%80%ec%a0%95%eb%a1%a0-%eb%b0%98%eb%b0%95%ec%9d%84-%ec%9c%84%ed%95%9c-%ec%9e%90%eb%a3%8c-%eb%aa%a8%ec%9d%8c/