March 28, 2013 Women and Gender Studies, in collaboration with WAVES and several local chapters as well as the national office of AAUW (The American Association of University Women) hosted a screening of the Oscar Nominated documentary The Invisible War followed by a panel discussion.
The groundbreaking investigative documentary focuses on one of America's most shameful and best kept secrets: the epidemic of rape within the U.S. military. The film paints a startling picture of the extent of the problem-today, a female soldier in combat zones is more likely to be raped by a fellow soldier than killed by enemy fire. The Department of Defense estimates there were a staggering 19,000 violent sex crimes in the military in 2010. The Invisible War exposes the epidemic, breaking open one of the most under-reported stories of our generation, to the nation and the world.
Panel participants included members of the Fairfax County chapter of the AAUW (American Association of University Women): Holly Kearl, AAUW Legal Advocacy Fund Program Manager; Sandy Lawrence, Northern Virginia District Representative; Mary Ann Sprouse, Director of WAVES---Wellness, Alcohol, and Violence Education and Services; and Josh Connelly, Deputy Legislative Director to Representative Jackie Speier.
After viewing the film, members of the audience had an opportunity to ask members of the panel very thought provoking questions. One audience member asked about the experiences of men who are raped in the military. Both Sandy Lawrence and Josh Connelly relied on data to confirm that the actual number of men who are raped is higher than women, but because women make up such a small percentage of military personnel, their rate of rape is extraordinarily higher. Another audience member asked about prevention strategies. Mr. Connelly acknowledged that though prevention is important, “we cannot train our way out of this.” He noted that the vast majority of rapes in the military are perpetrated by a relatively small number of men. He referred to them as serial rapists and noted that the military needs to implement a system of justice and punishment that removes serial rapists from the branches of service. Finally, an audience member asked about rapes the military and on college campuses. Mary Ann Sprouse noted that there are many similarities including serious under-reporting, victim blaming, and difficulty in obtaining justice.
The event was well attended by both campus and community members.
March 29, 2013
