Military Sexual Trauma: A Contemporary Issue in Historical Context
Wednesday, February 15, 2012 • 4:00 pm – 5:20 pm
Sociology Professor Brenda Moore will present results of the research she has been conducting with the Department of Veterans Affairs Western New York Healthcare System on military sexual trauma (MST).
This study explores the degree to which MST is an issue in today’s military as compared to previous years, and patients’ perceptions of the accessibility and quality of VA medical treatment.
This project was supported by a 2010-11 Civic Engagement Research Fellowship.
Over the last two decades, the U.S. armed services have been moving toward full integration of women into their ranks.Although the percentage of women in the armed forces (15%) is not reflective of that which exists in the broader civilian population (approximately 50%), it is a remarkable increase from the 1.6% representation of service women in 1976; three years after the military draft had ended.Not only has the number of women increased in recent decades, but practically all occupational positions with the exception of direct combat are officially open to women. Concomitant with the dramatic increase in the number of women serving in the military, particularly in roles that have previously been occupied exclusively by men, the issue of military sexual trauma (MST) has become more visible. Although men also experience MST, women are more likely to be victimized; and sexual trauma has been socially defined as being a crime committed against women.With recent attention being given to the crime, more military men are coming forward with claims of sexual abuse.For the last two years I have been examining the scope of the problem; and collecting data on the health care that is currently administered to veterans who were victims of MST.These data are valuable in help providing a blueprint for social change, both in the military and in the broader society.
This is event is cosponsored by the UB Department of Sociology.