(covers information from several alternate timelines)
In Prime Universe[]
During the Cardassian Occupation of Bajor, the Cardassians took Bajoran women from their homes and families on Bajor to serve as comfort women for them. These women lived in relative luxury compared to the rest of the Bajoran population, and they were hated and referred to as collaborators. They were forced to leave everything behind to provide company and pleasure to the Cardassians.
Historical Term[]
The term "comfort women" was ascribed in real life to Chinese, Filipina and Korean (and other Asian nationalities whose countries were occupied by the Japanese) women rounded up by the Japanese army for similar uses during the Second World War.
In Star Trek: Warship Voyager Universe[]
Within the Warship Voyager universe The term and occupation of "Comfort Woman" is a under a different meaning. It is meant to be a Bajoran Second Female (woman Equivalent) who worked for a wealthy or upstanding family and as the term says make both the running and atmosphere of the home as "comfortable" as possible (on Mars this would be the equivalent of a Governess, Au pair, Maid, or Nanny.) Leeta Heron worked at this occupation for an influential family that were friends with her own family in her late teens.
External Links[]
- Comfort woman article at Memory Alpha, the canon Star Trek wiki.