We all know that veterans who risk their lives overseas for our freedom go through many different horrific experiences and eventually develop posttraumatic stress disorder (also known as PTSD). I believe women veterans have it even harder, not only are they experiencing the same awful things they men are, many also have to experience Medical Sexual Trauma (MST). MST is defined as uninvited and unwanted sexual attention and/or the use of force or threat of force resulting in unwilling sexual contact.
This article from the New York Times explains how women in the force develop PTSD due to sexual harassment, and when they come back home many do not receive any health care benefits. Unlike women in the workplace who deal with sexual harassment, servicewomen don’t have the option to just quit. They are forced to work and be assaulted by “misogynistic men”. The Veterans Benefits Administration does approve 53 percent of PTSD cases but only 32 percent when the PTSD is related to sexual trauma; and they have been sued by the Service Women’s Action Network because of this.
Once again we are able to see gender inequality in the world. I am pretty sure that men who have PTSD get treated for it no matter what the cause of is, but I cannot understand why women don’t. It is very hard for me to understand why servicewomen cannot receive health care benefits for PTSD just because it is linked to sexual assault. Why should it matter? They should receive health care benefits regardless of what problems they have because they have risked their lives fighting for our country, just like the men have.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/12/opinion/justice-for-women-veterans.html
September 16th, 2011 2:08pm
1 comment:
I believe it is a very common theme in the military for inequalities in general. The debates over gender and sexuality equality is a long had struggle. Sadly, it doesnt look like they are in a hurry to make changes, which means something big will probably have to happen in order for change to occur.
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