As I have said earlier, sexual assault is a normal way of life for many women officers in the military world. If a victimized woman officer plans to lodge a complaint against the officers, she would be on the verge of putting her career at stake. She would only be entitled to humiliations and courts- martial, than a genuine justice so in most of the cases, nothing is ever done.
Then the traumatic existence of the victimized women officers replaces the normal routine in their life. Continuously they are being haunted by nightmares and flashbacks but not of bombs or rocket-propelled grenades; instead, they are being troubled by the dreadful experience of rape that they have experienced during their life span in the defense services.
Veterans Hospital in Madison is helping more than 100 women who are suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder that is because of sexual harassment, which the women are subjected to face.
Approximately, a third of women seek refuse there who are being victimized by sexual harassment, which includes physical assault and verbal nuisance as well.
Looking at the escalating number of women officers employed in the defense services since 2002, Pentagon in 2005, has declared a new policy of confidentiality. According to which, assault victims may report the matter to get justice before senior officials are notified.
New therapies
Most of the veterans continue to struggle with the horrors of combat. Doctors usually treat them with medications and counseling. However, scholars are working to develop new therapies in this regard.
Darrah Westrup, lead psychologist at the Women’s Trauma Recovery Program at the Veterans Hospital in Menlo Park, asserted that firstly, their own defense personnel victimize women at the battleground and secondly, when they come back, they find it a bit difficult to take a completely new role of a house maker. The situation becomes worse when their family members do not accommodate them.
Consequently, they become more frustrated with themselves for not being able to manage the state of affairs like they did before.
Case
Jessica Simpkins, who left military more than a year ago disclosed how she was brutally raped by a defense personnel however, later was convicted of assault in a military trial.
Life took a horrendous shape for Simpkins, walking alone even in the market place became a tough job for her. But after the conviction, life became a bit relaxed for her. Thus, she asserted that
‘if I don’t talk about it, it’s just worse because then it’s all in my head. Talking about it lets me deal with what happened and take steps to move on with my life.’
