It’s okay to abuse women in the military. That’s the attitude I get out of recent statistics from the Department of Veterans Affairs records looking at women returning from duty in Afghanistan and Iraq: one fifth of them experienced sexual trauma, as measured by screening tests. And the V.A. admits that there are very likely more, since so many women, uncomfortable with the V.A., don’t seek treatment there and, therefore, are not counted in the statistics.
Of course, many assaults aren’t reported. Would you, knowing that the people you report to you (above you in rank) will be skeptical or that you might face retaliation? How will your career be affected? is a reasonable—and common—question victims ask themselves.
For a clearer explanation of what these women face, read the Center for Public Integrity article at http://www.publicintegrity.org/2013/09/05/13317/one-fifth-female-veterans-iraq-afghanistan-show-signs-sexual-trauma.
Then urge your lawmakers to do something about it by cosponsoring H.R. 1593, the STOP Act. (A quick, easy way to do so is through the American Association of University Women’s site–just click on http://salsa4.salsalabs.com/o/50796/p/dia/action/public/index.sjs?action_KEY=8324.)