New Award-winning Documentary on Rape in the Military

[wigflip]

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The Invisible War, opening in major cities this Friday, is well worth seeing for anyone interested in violence against women and/or the military. Oscar-nominated documentary director Kirby Dick provides a structural analysis of the problem of sexual assault in the military that diverges significantly from the "few bad apples" explanations typically offered by mainstream media. That said, the film in no way bashes the military (and his interviewees all stipulated that they would not agree to appear in a film that did). Well worth watching, I would think especially for folks hoping to work for the VA.

Note: although the trailer includes a brief clip of one of the alleged perpetrators (receiving an award during the time period he was under investigation for rape), this was excised from the final cut of the film. Rather than focus on individual assailants, the film focuses on secondary victimization and institutionalized barriers to seeking justice.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ifc_ongQFQ

http://www.democracynow.org/2012/1/30/the_invisible_war_new_film_exposes

Also watch out: the Internet comments on youtube will make you lose your mind.

 

[paramour]

Thanks for the recommendation!

Also watch out: the Internet comments on youtube will make you lose your mind.

🙄 I didn't have to go too far down to run into the first comments. Not sure why I'm surprised. I would expect this crap from the guys I see on a daily basis... And I think even they wouldn't go quite so far as some of those comments.

 

[AcronymAllergy]

🙄 I didn't have to go too far down to run into the first comments. Not sure why I'm surprised. I would expect this crap from the guys I see on a daily basis... And I think even they wouldn't go quite so far as some of those comments.

I've learned to accept that internet comments, no matter how mundane the video or story content to which they supposedly pertain, will make a little part of my soul die each time I read them.

 

[roubs]

I've learned to accept that internet comments, no matter how mundane the video or story content to which they supposedly pertain, will make a little part of my soul die each time I read them.

I like that some sites are using facebook to power comments so at least it ups the chances that someones full and real name is attached to what they say. Even so I think it just barely boosts the level of discourse. I'll still take it 🙂

And yeah re: the documentary, I definitely intend to see it. Thanks.

 

[dumbledoresgirl]

Also watch out: the Internet comments on youtube will make you lose your mind.

Oh, internet comments. I've learned that it's best if I don't read them...otherwise I just get pissed off. That's the one part I don't like about working in the trauma / sexual assault field...having to listen to people ramble off their beliefs as if they're getting them straight off of a rape myth acceptance checklist.

Will definitely have to check out this new film! Thank you for posting the link 🙂

 

[cara susanna]

Yeah, my sexual assault research makes me weep for humanity a lot.

 

[wigflip]

Hey folks, thanks for the nice comments. Glad you plan to support this important film. For anyone near a computer right now, the filmmakers are actually going to be live on KPFK shortly! You can listen live here*:

http://www.kpfk.org/programs/48-background-briefing-with-ian-masters.html

Right now they are interviewing the Tailhook whistleblower (who also appears in the film). The host referred to her as a "lady pilot." 🙁

*I'm sure that the show will be archived if you miss it. I've seen both the director and producer speak before, and they're great, particularly Kirby Dick.

 

[wigflip]

That's the one part I don't like about working in the trauma / sexual assault field...having to listen to people ramble off their beliefs as if they're getting them straight off of a rape myth acceptance checklist.)

I haven't done VAW work in a while, but it was the same working in domestic violence.

 

[cara susanna]

Having worked with both SA and DV survivors, I agree that it's very difficult to hear not only your clients' beliefs but also others' beliefs. Heck, my mom still doesn't understand why women stay in abusive relationships, even though I've explained it to her multiple times.

 

[wigflip]

Having worked with both SA and DV survivors, I agree that it's very difficult to hear not only your clients' beliefs but also others' beliefs. Heck, my mom still doesn't understand why women stay in abusive relationships, even though I've explained it to her multiple times.

Arg. I know. "Why don't they just leave?" "Why don't you just shut up!" 😡

 

[cara susanna]

Or, my favorite, "If a guy hit me I'd just hit him back!"

 

[AcronymAllergy]

Just try to think of it in terms of the number of people you're educating about sexual assault/domestic violence, rather than the number of people who have faulty beliefs/assumptions about it; maybe that'll help alleviate some of the aggravation. I know substance abuse therapists and researchers deal with similar frustrations, even from other mental health professionals who choose not to treat it (e.g., "why don't they just stop using?!").

Heck, we could probably apply that to some degree to just about anything we work with or study ("why don't they just stop being sad," "why don't they just stop worrying," "why don't they just stop thinking about it," etc., etc., etc.).

 

[Pragma]

I'll definitely watch this...thanks for posting

 

[roubs]

Just try to think of it in terms of the number of people you're educating about sexual assault/domestic violence, rather than the number of people who have faulty beliefs/assumptions about it; maybe that'll help alleviate some of the aggravation. I know substance abuse therapists and researchers deal with similar frustrations, even from other mental health professionals who choose not to treat it (e.g., "why don't they just stop using?!").

Heck, we could probably apply that to some degree to just about anything we work with or study ("why don't they just stop being sad," "why don't they just stop worrying," "why don't they just stop thinking about it," etc., etc., etc.).

This reminded me that I've heard borderline used as a verb as in "Why don't they just stop borderlineing their friends/family?!"

 

[Shatani]

I've learned to accept that internet comments, no matter how mundane the video or story content to which they supposedly pertain, will make a little part of my soul die each time I read them.

yes. this.

i never read comments anymore...that is where your faith in humanity (if you even have any left) will be murdered. brutally.

 

[Shatani]

This reminded me that I've heard borderline used as a verb as in "Why don't they just stop borderlineing their friends/family?!"

wow...seriously? amazing.

 

[wigflip]

i never read comments anymore...that is where your faith in humanity (if you even have any left) will be murdered. brutally.

i try not to, but that first one always sneaks in somehow. and if it's someone responding to something insane, i lack the self-control to not read that one...i usually get myself to stop by reminding myself that if i'm going to read horribly written prose grounded in poor reasoning skills, i might as well get paid for it (i.e. grade student papers).

 

[dumbledoresgirl]

i usually get myself to stop by reminding myself that if i'm going to read horribly written prose grounded in poor reasoning skills, i might as well get paid for it (i.e. grade student papers).

 

[wigflip]

did anyone have the opportunity to see the film over the weekend? comments? critiques?

i liked that they addressed men as victims of sexual assault.

 

[paramour]

Recently learned that this is screening on-campus next month. 👍

 

[wigflip]

Recently learned that this is screening on-campus next month. 👍

cool. hope you get a chance to see it.

 

[paramour]

cool. hope you get a chance to see it.

It's already IN MY PLANNER.

I just landed a new position, so I'm just hoping that I'm not on-call that night. Or, if so, that I don't have to leave suddenly. (They can wait, right? 😛)