“If the numbers we see in domestic violence were applied to terrorism or gang violence, the entire country would be up in arms, and it would be the lead story on the news every night.”

- Rep. Mark Green

The Military and Violence Against Women

Image Source: http://militarytimes.com/blogs/outside-the-wire/files/2011/10/heels.jpg

Victim
His punishing fists bring crushing blows
Splitting my flesh, mutilating my soul.
 The gale winds of fury knock me to the floor.
Nothing new - he‘s done this before.
 Tenderly caressing me his hands should be.
Not instruments of pain and agony.
 Oh God! Hear my distressing cry.
Through decimated lips and swollen eyes
A once white blouse now crimson red
My languid body on the bed.
 The love of his life I am supposed to be
How can he do such things to me?
 Like a predator standing over his prey
Violating me again before walking away
 Before you my story unfurled
A horrifying glimpse into my world.
 Too much at stake to remain in silence.
I am a victim of domestic violence.
-Sam Bristow (2010).
The following websites are great sources that address violence against women in the military:
Great website that provides a variety of information, including articles on violence against women in the military and around the world.

http://www.militaryhomefront.dod.mil
Website designed specifically for military personnel and their family members and addresses issues on domestic violence in military community and provides information on possible help resources. 

Here is some information on violence against women from academic world:
Campbell, J., Garza, M., Gielen, A., O'Campo, P., Kub, J., Dienemann, J., & ... Jafar, E. (2003). Intimate partner violence and abuse among active duty military women. Violence Against Women, 9(9), 1072-1092.
This article provides information on IPV and active duty women. The study, conducted by authors showed that 30% of active duty women reported being victims of IPV. Examination of current military policies and programs that address IPV was also discussed.
Here is more information on violence against women in the military: 




Violence against women in the military communities as high as in civilian ones, however female abuse victims face greater challenges than their civilian counterparts due to constant relocation and fewer opportunities to seek help from family members and friends. According to futureswithoutviolence.org website’s report:
  • ·      The victim of domestic violence in the military is predominantly the female, civilian spouse of active duty personnel. Victims normally have children and more than half have been married two years or less.
  • ·      Substantiated spousal abuse involving members of the military is predominantly perpetrated by male, active duty personnel.
  • ·      Among the Services, the Army consistently has shown the highest rates of domestic violence, followed by the Marines, Navy, and Air Force.
  • ·      Abused women in military communities are often fearful of reporting incidents due to the lack of confidentiality and privacy as well as limited victim services.
  • ·      In the sample of active duty military women from the greater Washington, DC metropolitan area, 29.9 percent reported adult lifetime intimate partner violence, defined as physical and/or sexual assault from a current or former intimate partner. African American women were significantly less likely to be abused during military service than were white women, but ethnic group membership was not a risk factor for lifetime abuse.

In order to help victims of abuse in the military (specifically sexual abuse), Congresswoman Jackie Speier (D-Calif.) proposed a new Act - The Sexual Assault Training Oversight and Prevention (STOP) Act. Under the new Act, sexual assault victims could avoid going to their command (that could stop them to reporting abuse further) and go straight to special office that would deal with the problem (Benedict, 2011).

References
Benedict, H. (2011, November 17). New act could fix the military’s fatally flawed handling of sexual assault. MS Magazine Blog. Retrieved from http://msmagazine.com/blog/blog/2011/11/17/new-act-could-fix-the-militarys-fatally-flawed-handling-of-sexual-assault/
Bristow, S. (2010). “Victim.” Retrieved from http://samboiam.hubpages.com/hub/Stop-Violence-Against-Women
Campbell, J., Garza, M., Gielen, A., O'Campo, P., Kub, J., Dienemann, J., & ... Jafar, E. (2003). Intimate partner violence and abuse among active duty military women. Violence Against Women, 9(9), 1072-1092.
Domestic Violence in the Military (2009, January 28). [Video]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0UQzKuE69XE&feature=related
Domestic Violence- Part III (2010, November 4). [Video]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jb2s9Ah-g6A&feature=related
The Facts on the Military and Violence Against Women (n.d.) Retrieved from http://www.futureswithoutviolence.org 




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