Overlooked and looked over: women veterans tell their story
by: John Bachtell May 1 2012
CHICAGO — With extraordinarily high rates of post-traumatic stress disorder and skyrocketing suicides, US military veterans from the Afghanistan and Iraq occupations urgently need a means to share experiences and deal with the pain and trauma of war.
And the growing number of active duty and veteran women in the armed forces need a means to share their unique experiences not least the pain and trauma of rampant sexual harassment, rape, assault and other violence while in the military.
Women veterans are sharing their experiences in a powerful and eye opening exhibit at the National Veterans Art Museum (NVAM) called “Overlooked/Looked Over.” The exhibit includes the work of 8 women artists including members of Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW). It opened on March 10 in honor of the centennial celebration of International Women’s Day and will run through Memorial Day.