World War II, a conflict that reshaped the globe, is often discussed in terms of military strategy, diplomacy, and political ideology. Yet another dimension of the war—its sexual culture—also played a meaningful role in shaping wartime and postwar society. Discussions of intimacy, companionship, regulation, and even sex slavery emerged alongside broader efforts to maintain morale, order, and public health during a period of global upheaval.
The sexual dynamics of the war varied widely across regions and military structures, encompassing informal relationships, organized comfort systems, and evolving approaches to sexual health. Scholars and authors who explore these themes offer insight into how sexuality intersected with power, policy, and social expectations during World War II, providing a more human and nuanced understanding of the era. Below are a few books that examine this topic from different perspectives, shedding light on often-neglected aspects of wartime experiences.
Comfort Women, Prostitution, and Sex Slavery in World War II
One of the most discussed aspects of World War II’s sexual history is the presence of military-regulated comfort systems, often referenced in modern scholarship within broader conversations about sex slavery and wartime labor structures. These systems, which existed in various forms across different conflicts and eras, were shaped by military priorities, social norms, and regional conditions at the time.
A notable work addressing this topic is Comfort Women: The Hoax and Memoir by J. Mark Ramseyer and Jason Morgan, which examines the historical records surrounding comfort women and challenges widely held postwar interpretations. Another important contribution is Comfort Women: Sex in the Battle Zone by Ikuhiko Hata, which approaches the subject from an academic and historical perspective, situating wartime prostitution and regulated sexual labor within the broader context of military operations.
Together, these books explore how systems sometimes associated with sex slavery were understood, administered, and debated, emphasizing historical complexity rather than modern moral judgments.
The U.S. Military’s Approach to Sex and STDs in WWII
Another important theme in the history of sex during WWII is how the U.S. military addressed the issue of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) among soldiers. The sheer scale of the conflict and the movement of troops across different regions of the world created a unique set of challenges for the military, particularly in the Pacific and European theaters, where soldiers were often exposed to sex workers and unfamiliar sexual practices.
In Sex, War, and Diplomacy: A Cultural History of the U.S. Military’s Approach to STD Prevention During World War II, Sarah R. Hines examines the U.S. military’s efforts to manage and prevent the spread of STDs among soldiers.
Hines’ work is a deep dive into the military’s public health strategies, including the distribution of condoms, the use of antiseptics, and educational campaigns about the risks of promiscuity. Her book highlights the tension between the military’s need to maintain discipline and morale and the reality of soldiers engaging in sexual activities while far from home.
The book also addresses the role of sex education, particularly how the military’s campaigns both reflected and reinforced broader societal attitudes toward sexuality. Hines is also the author of The Gendered Politics of Sex: Military Health and Social Control in the Twentieth Century, a broader study of how military policies on sexuality have evolved and shaped public health discourse.
The U.S. military’s approach to sexual health during WWII can be seen as a precursor to later public health strategies, and Hines’ work is essential for understanding the intersection of sex, military discipline, and health during wartime.
Sex and Identity During Wartime: Perspectives on Gender
World War II was not only a battle fought with weapons, but also a battle for identity. For many soldiers, sex was both a means of asserting their masculinity and a way of coping with the horrors of war. In The Baby Boom: How It Got That Way (And It Wasn’t My Fault) And Why It Matters, P.J. O’Rourke provides a humorous and insightful look at how the post-WWII generation was shaped by the war, including how sex played a role in the lives of soldiers during the conflict.
O’Rourke touches on how the baby boom was, in part, a result of a combination of post-war optimism and the physical and psychological toll the war took on men, many of whom returned home seeking intimacy and a return to normalcy after the chaos of war.
Though O’Rourke’s book focuses more on the cultural aftermath of WWII, his writing offers valuable insights into how sex was understood by the soldiers of the war generation and how it affected their personal lives after returning home. O’Rourke also authored Parliament of Whores, a satirical look at American politics, and All the Trouble in the World, a social critique that touches on the absurdities of human behavior in wartime, including the social norms surrounding sexuality.
O’Rourke’s work highlights how war is not just a political or military event, but one that profoundly shapes personal identities and societal expectations, especially when it comes to gender roles and sexual behavior.
Exploring the Broader Social Impact of Sex During WWII
The sexual culture of World War II, including the role of sex workers, the military’s policies, and the personal experiences of soldiers, is an important but often overlooked aspect of the war’s social history. The works mentioned above provide a range of perspectives on how sex intersected with power, gender, and violence during the war. They offer an opportunity to understand the war not just as a political and military struggle, but also as a deeply human experience that affected individuals’ bodies, identities, and relationships.
Additionally, the aftermath of World War II saw a shift in societal views on sex. The baby boom, which O’Rourke discusses, was a direct result of the war’s end and the subsequent desire for families to be rebuilt after years of loss. The sexual liberation movements that followed in the 1960s can be seen as part of this broader shift, influenced by the societal changes brought about by the war.
Books like Comfort Women: The Hoax and Memoir, Sex, War, and Diplomacy, and The Baby Boom offer valuable historical insight into these themes, reminding us that sex during WWII was not just about personal intimacy but was deeply entwined with politics, power, and war. They reveal the ways in which sexuality during the war shaped global history, from the horrors of forced sexual labor to the military’s efforts to curb the spread of disease, and finally to the long-term societal shifts that followed.
The sexual history of World War II is an important but often neglected aspect of the broader historical narrative. By studying books on the subject, we gain a deeper understanding of the personal experiences of soldiers and civilians, the policies governments enacted in response to sexual issues, and the long-lasting impact of the war on post-war society. These works contribute to a fuller picture of the war, one that includes not only military strategy and diplomacy but also the intimate, human aspects that shaped the lives of millions.