I've watched this documentary three times now, and I found myself losing no amount of shock or horror with each new viewing. This is how I know The Invisible War is such a good film: it doesn't get old, it can't get boring, and it won't become unimportant. Everything about this film was masterfully crafted to display its message, but it helps that the message is so powerful on its own.
I'd challenge you to find someone who will openly say sexual assault, harassment, and rape are not a big deal. Collectively, Western society agrees that it is morally wrong; but people are surprisingly reluctant to admit it is very common, rather than some horrible heinous act that happens once in a blue moon to unlucky ladies. It's estimated that one in four to six women will experience sexual assault in their life time (based on the women I know personally, this holds up). I'd slap a few more statistics down about the general population's rate of abuse if this documentary were about your common American city. It looks instead at a much more toxic environment with massively inflated numbers of sexual abuse victims: the United States military.
We're recounted the tales of several abuse victims, mostly women, as they discuss their experiences in the Navy, the Coast Card, the Army, the Air Force, you name it. Their stories are all incredibly similar: they come to proudly serve their country, work hard to prove they can work alongside the guys, form a strong bond of trust with their teammates, and quickly learn just how little that trust means to a few predatory men. Most end their service with a few of the following: severe injuries from the attack, pregnancies, STDs, convictions of adultery, an inability to form close bonds ever again, and of course severe PTSD. Many, if not all, attempt suicide and struggle with lifelong depression and anxiety. We're taken through in-depth accounts of several victims and the stark differences between their lives before and after their service.
The high rate of sexual assault within the military is not surprising, given the culture of hyper-masculinity necessitated for war. What IS surprising is how little military officials and higher-ups do to aid victims and punish perpetrators. The film explores the complex hierarchy struggles that allow for this abuse of power (many of the rapists are commanding officers) and the lack of support given to victims after the fact. Injuries attained from other servicemen are not covered by military health care or subsidies, for instance. So these people are violently assaulted, causticly dismissed when they ask for help, watch the perpetrators walk free to repeat offend, given no honorable discharge when they leave, and not even given coverage for their mental and physical health costs.
The film allows for no confusion about the stance the military representatives take on sexual assault: dismissiveness. Interviews with committee members utilized in the film reveal how the logic of their inaction is built on old, well-liked lies.
It does end on a positive note: people are beginning to take action, largely because of the attention this documentary has gotten. Steps are very slowly being taken to protect the people who protect us.
I'd challenge you to find someone who will openly say sexual assault, harassment, and rape are not a big deal. Collectively, Western society agrees that it is morally wrong; but people are surprisingly reluctant to admit it is very common, rather than some horrible heinous act that happens once in a blue moon to unlucky ladies. It's estimated that one in four to six women will experience sexual assault in their life time (based on the women I know personally, this holds up). I'd slap a few more statistics down about the general population's rate of abuse if this documentary were about your common American city. It looks instead at a much more toxic environment with massively inflated numbers of sexual abuse victims: the United States military.
We're recounted the tales of several abuse victims, mostly women, as they discuss their experiences in the Navy, the Coast Card, the Army, the Air Force, you name it. Their stories are all incredibly similar: they come to proudly serve their country, work hard to prove they can work alongside the guys, form a strong bond of trust with their teammates, and quickly learn just how little that trust means to a few predatory men. Most end their service with a few of the following: severe injuries from the attack, pregnancies, STDs, convictions of adultery, an inability to form close bonds ever again, and of course severe PTSD. Many, if not all, attempt suicide and struggle with lifelong depression and anxiety. We're taken through in-depth accounts of several victims and the stark differences between their lives before and after their service.
The high rate of sexual assault within the military is not surprising, given the culture of hyper-masculinity necessitated for war. What IS surprising is how little military officials and higher-ups do to aid victims and punish perpetrators. The film explores the complex hierarchy struggles that allow for this abuse of power (many of the rapists are commanding officers) and the lack of support given to victims after the fact. Injuries attained from other servicemen are not covered by military health care or subsidies, for instance. So these people are violently assaulted, causticly dismissed when they ask for help, watch the perpetrators walk free to repeat offend, given no honorable discharge when they leave, and not even given coverage for their mental and physical health costs.
The film allows for no confusion about the stance the military representatives take on sexual assault: dismissiveness. Interviews with committee members utilized in the film reveal how the logic of their inaction is built on old, well-liked lies.
It does end on a positive note: people are beginning to take action, largely because of the attention this documentary has gotten. Steps are very slowly being taken to protect the people who protect us.