The Changing Perceptions of Military Sexual Trauma (MST) and Reporting Incidents of Rape and Sexual Assaults Past, Present and Future Views

• In Event: Poster Session

Abstract

The military is underrepresented culture concerning research in interpersonal violence, and abuses related to Military Sexual Trauma (MST). If really wretched conditions did not exist for many women in the military, in the past, which made reporting an incident of sexual harassment, verbal or physical abuse problematic there would have most likely been more reports of MST. Sometimes, in the past, the best option has been not to report an MST incident especially, when military members live together in close quarters, on deployments. Other times, reporting of MST incidents has been systemically discouraged. Incidents involving MST, in some military units, have been an accepted part of the culture by victims and offenders that allows for the perpetuation of abusive acts and behaviors.
Currently, a restricted reporting system, created in 2005, allow victims to report an MST incident without triggering an official investigation, unrestricted reporting is also available. This poster will present information concerning legislation that has been introduced into Congress to re-address the way incidents of MST are handled by the military, and how it will also provide resources for veterans who have experienced MST and never reported it, but suffer from the effects of it, today.

Author

• Christine Seagrave, Lewis University