The handmaidens' plight: an investigation of survivor ideologies of marginalized Asian women

Abstract

Despite the traumatic ordeals experienced by marginalized Asian women, many have emerged triumphant despite inconceivable odds to proclaim their tragic narratives. Such desperate struggles beg the question: "What sustainable ideologies helped them to transcend their perpetrators' inhumane treatment?" This study investigates the oppressive experiences of a concubine, a comfort woman, and a woman warrior. This two-fold investigation of oppressive systems and women survivor ideologies employs three methodologies: the socio-historical, to understand repressive systems, the psychoanalytical, to assess psychological trauma, lastly, the autobiographical, to explore evolving identities. The investigation reveals the concubine’s accomplishments, the comfort woman’s inter-subjectivity, and the woman warrior’s selfhood. The study implicates societies’ collusion and perpetuation of hegemonic/monolithic ideologies. However, modern-day cousins continue to perpetuate women's subjugation.