Women’s History Month events on Cerritos campus cover different aspects of what it has meant to be a woman through the years.
Thursday’s, March 26, showing of the groundbreaking documentary ‘The Invisible War’ in the social sciences building was no different and showed a darker, little-known side of what it’s like to be a female in the military.
The film was presented by the American Association of University Women, a group that has aimed to empower women since 1881.
Committee member Tobi Balma started the event by showing a few videos about what the AAUW is about, what they do for students and the benefits of being a member.
Rape, reported and unreported, is a problem run rampant in the military and often goes unpunished.
‘The Invisible War’ documents the stories of several women who joined the military with high hopes for their future, only to have them struck down by violence, rape and ultimately punishment and shame; while their attackers actions were ignored, covered up and sometimes rewarded.
“We want young women, older women, men, everyone to know that this is a problem,” Balma said. “What’s appalling is the chain of command that must be stopped in the military. No woman should have to report their assault to their commanding officer, who may also be their attacker.”
The film shows these women as they try to piece their lives back together after leaving the military traumatized.
Most state that what’s almost as bad as being raped is the complete lack of care given to them after they reported their rapes.
Most were blamed for inviting it, told not to make a big deal about it and some were dropped in rank for causing a problem.
Some suffered serious, long-standing physical injuries that were never paid for by the Veterans Association.
These women ultimately decide to ban together and sue the military for ignoring their complaints of sexual assaults and rape.
In the end their case is dismissed due to rape being considered an ‘occupational hazard’ of being in the military.
“It’s compounded. Every time I see it I don’t feel better, I feel worse,” Balma said, despite having seen the film many times before.
This issue does not only affect those in the military.
Amy Holzgang, department chair of Women and Gender studies said, “I think sexual assault is an important issue to understand, how it’s dealt with and how institutions respond to it. So whether it’s college campuses, whether it’s military, I think it’s important to have.”
It was Holzgang’s first viewing of the film.
“It’s troubling, it’s maddening,” she said. “It’s something we need to know about, we need to know how these institutions respond and don’t respond.”
Those interested in joining the AAUW can join for free on their website aauw.org and can even learn about ways to support the Stop Act; a cause that aims to change how rapes and sexual assault are investigated in the military and seeks to hold offenders accountable.
