Findings of a Research : One in Four U.S. Female Soldiers in Afghanistan Experienced Sexual Assault

The research, published in the War Costs Journal on Wednesday (August 14), emphasizes that 1.9% of U.S. male soldiers also encountered such experiences in Afghanistan.

The research indicates that "these soldiers were subjected to sexual assault during their service between 2001 and 2021 in Afghanistan, with Black women and sexual minorities among U.S. military personnel facing higher rates of sexual violence."

According to Brown University’s findings, the number of "sexual assault" cases in the U.S. military reached approximately 150,000 in 2021 and 2023. In contrast, the U.S. Department of Defense previously reported 35,900 cases in 2021 and 29,000 cases in 2023.

Unlike the Department of Defense’s statistics, Brown University’s research cites 75,569 cases in 2021 and 73,695 cases in 2023.

Jennifer Greenberg, the report’s author, stated that "the focus on troop readiness in post-September 11 wars, rather than other issues, has led to an increase in problems of sexual assault, domestic violence, and gender inequalities in military institutions."

The U.S. Department of Defense has called this situation "unacceptable" and stated that continuous efforts will be made to provide a safe environment and prevent sexual assault while holding perpetrators accountable.

This is despite the fact that there have been reports of "sexual assault" among the American military before.