Military Women Sexually Abused
Women in Military Who are Sexually Assaulted Face Huge Hurdles
Nov 8, 2008
Female soldiers have another war to fight. Military training does not include workshops on how to defend yourself from your fellow troops. In July of this year, ABC News reported that there are about 60,000 female military personnel who have been sexually abused while serving for the United States military.
Prevalence of Sexual Abuse in the Military
Veterans Affairs researchers have found that one in seven female soldiers who were deployed to Afghanistan or Iraq and later sought health care reported being sexually harassed or assaulted during their military service. In contrast, the same research found 0.7% of male soldiers reported similar experiences.
The data offers no proof that women in the war zones are more vulnerable to sexual assaults than other female military service members. Of the female veterans who walk into Veteran Affairs (VA) facilities, 15% have screened positive for military sexual trauma.
Although American female soldiers are raped by Iraqi and Afghan men, most reports to the Miles Foundation state that fellow U.S. service members are named as the perpetrators.
Women are not Comfortable after Disclosure
Former Red Cross worker Ingrid Torres was sexually abused by an American military doctor. In the courtroom she tearfully yet eloquently stated: “The most important thing to note about the response of commanders and personnel is that I, as the victim, made others feel more uncomfortable than he did as perpetrator because I stood up and said something.”
Abuse Victims Further Traumatized
All veterans, male or female, experience internal struggles as a result of war. Abused female veterans suffer emotional battles much greater than their comrades. Depression, anxiety, problem drinking and sexually transmitted diseases are all problems proven to be linked to sexual abuse. Amplify these with the trauma of living in fear for your life every day, witnessing fellow troop members being killed or maimed, and emotional damage to these women will intensify.
Changes in the Military
The Gulf War and invasion of Iraq revealed the enormity of sexual attacks on female military personnel. Then-Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld convened a task force in 2004 on the treatment and care of sexual assault victims. One change that followed was the creation of confidentiality in the military’s reporting system so a victim can come forward to receive help without necessarily triggering an investigation.
Services for Abused Female Veterans
The VA now provides free care to any veteran, regardless of gender, who has experienced military sexual trauma. This is a major advancement since the 1991 Persian Gulf War. Since 2002, about 20% of female veterans from all eras and 1% of male veterans have screened positive for military sexual trauma.
In January 2008, the Veterans Affairs opened its 16th inpatient ward located in New Jersey, specializing in treating victims of military sexual trauma. In response to complaints that it’s too male-focused on care provided, the VA has made changes such as adding keyless entry locks on hospital room doors so female patients feel safer.
This facility also ensures that women have female therapists. There is also an increase of women-only groups as a component of therapy options.
Women and men being treated for military sexual trauma must have the option of having a same-sex mental health provider or opposite sex if the trauma involved a same-sex perpetrator.
VA facilities are located in every state, the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Guam and The Philippines.
The effects for any person who has suffered sexual abuse are long lasting, particularly for those who do not seek help. If you know of any woman who served in the military and was raped or sexually abused, please let her know there is help.
Further Reading:
Women in the Military and in Armed Conflict
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