主要研究 今天

主要研究 sexual assault prevention researcher Sharyn 波特 took her expertise to Washington, D.C., last month when she testified before a House of Representatives veteran affairs subcommittee. 她的证词支持众议院1092号法案, which would make it easier for veterans to prove they suffered sexual trauma while serving, facilitating their access to disability benefits and economic assistance.

波特, who is a professor of women’s and gender studies and executive director of research of 主要研究’s 预防创新研究中心, drew on her research that shows the cost of sexual violence and its catastrophic impact on victims’ health, 教育和职业轨迹.

“Access to disability benefits will reduce the veteran's military sexual trauma burden, allowing them to attain medical assistance and financially support themselves and their families.”

According to a Department of Defense report, approximately 7,500 active duty military men (.7%)和1.3万名女性(6%).2%)在2018年遭到性侵犯.

“I have interviewed both veterans and civilians who were sexually assaulted as they pursued their military careers and their education. Many of these survivors describe the spectrum of long-term health impacts and how these health problems hinder their ability to maintain stable employment,” 波特 said in her testimony to the Subcommittee on Disability and Memorial Affairs of the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. New Hampshire representative Annie Kuster and Chellie Pingree of Maine are among the members of that subcommittee.

波特’s research shows that victims of sexual trauma face substantial impediments to completing their education and meeting their career goals, 进一步破坏了他们的经济成功.

“When people transition in and out of the workplace or rotate among low-wage positions, 他们面临着经济不稳定, 对它们获取食物的能力构成挑战, 住房, 交通和保健,她在证词中说. “Access to disability benefits will reduce the veteran's military sexual trauma burden, allowing them to attain medical assistance and financially support themselves and their families.”

证词进行得“出奇地顺利”,波特报告道。, 注意到这可能导致与军方的进一步合作. 这个主题是她所热衷的. “Nobody serves their country thinking they’ll be sexually assaulted,” she said. “这是我们对军人们的亏欠.”