May 26, 2008
Op-Ed Contributor
For Women Warriors, Deep Wounds, Little Care
By HELEN BENEDICT
THIS Memorial Day, as an ever-increasing number of mentally and physically wounded soldiers return from Iraq, the Department of Veterans Affairs faces a pressing crisis: women traumatized not only by combat but also by sexual assault and harassment from their fellow service members. Sadly, the department is failing to fully deal with this problem.
Women make up some 15 percent of the United States active duty forces, and 11 percent of the soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan. Nearly a third of female veterans say they were sexually assaulted or raped while in the military, and 71 percent to 90 percent say they were sexually harassed by the men with whom they served.
This sort of abuse drastically increases the risk and intensity of post-traumatic stress disorder. One study found that female soldiers who were sexually assaulted were nine times more likely to show symptoms of this disorder than those who weren’t. Sexual harassment by itself is so destructive, another study revealed, it causes the same rates of post-traumatic stress in women as combat does in men. And rape can lead to other medical crises, including diabetes, asthma, chronic pelvic pain, eating disorders, miscarriages and hypertension.
The threat of post-traumatic stress has risen in recent years as women’s roles in war have changed. More of them now come under fire, suffer battle wounds and kill the enemy, just as men do.
As women return for repeat tours, usually redeploying with their same units, many must go back to war with the same man (or men) who abused them. This leaves these women as threatened by their own comrades as by the war itself. Yet the combination of sexual assault and combat has barely been acknowledged or studied.
I heard the first bit of sense out of Andy Rooney last night that I’ve heard from him in some time. Simply put he said the remembering does nothing for the people who are gone. Remember those who are right here, right now.
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COMMENTS / 6 COMMENTS
Josh added these pithy words on May 26 08 atit’s interesting what’s really only paid attention to on a day like this
tafka pb added these pithy words on May 27 08 atHey, I’m not required to care about these people once they’re out of the womb. They’re on their own.
BOOTSTRAPS, people! BOOTSTRAPS!
cory johnson added these pithy words on May 27 08 atI have never served in the military, but have suffered from PTSD most of my adult life. I can only the gov’t is providing the help and counseling needed. It has effected me to the point, that I have started my own website dealing with exact issue and the stigma associated with getting help.
http://www.phoenixrising-online.com
Michael L. Gooch added these pithy words on May 27 08 atThe sad fact is that most women who suffer from sexual harassment, are the ones that never report the offense. In my years as a human resource professional, I have witnessed this time and time again. Just as sad, is that a number of reported sexual harassment incidents are actually women trying to get back at a male boss that they do not like. I detail these situations and offer solutions in my book, Wingtips with Spurs: Lessons From the Ranch. In fact, I devote an entire chapter to these issues. Michael L. Gooch, SPHR http://www.michaellgooch.com
JollyRoger added these pithy words on May 27 08 atAnd do what you can to get those kids HOME. The moronic monkey certainly has no intention of ending the killing.
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