The Invisible War

Professor Bagshaw will be screening the groundbreaking investigative documentary, The Invisible War, on Thursday November 7, 2013, 6:00-8:00PM in HT216. A discussion led by Professor Bagshaw will follow the screening.

The Invisible War, written and directed by Kirby Dick, brings to light the endemic of rape within the armed forces. Featuring interviews with high-ranking military officials and members of Congress, along with journalists, mental-health officials and advocates, The Invisible War is a moving picture of the struggles women face as they attempt to rebuild their lives and fight for justice. According to the documentary, female soldiers today are more likely to be raped by a fellow soldier than killed by enemy fire, and in 2011, there were an estimated 22,800 violent sex crimes. Through interviews with women from various branches of the armed forces as they detail their experiences, the documentary chronicles the systemic cover-up of military sex crimes, the conditions that exist for rape in the military, its long history and what actions are needed for change.

The Invisible War won the U.S. Documentary Audience Award at the 2012 Sundance festival and was nominated for Best Documentary Feature at the 85th Academy Awards. More importantly, it has provided the impetus needed for discourse about the state of sexual assault in the military. More women have come forward to report abuse, and Congress, along with the Secretary of Defense, is actively trying to change the method with which sexual assault is handled in the military.