The Lonely Soldier by Helen Benedict in 2009
Helen Benedict is a professor of journalism at Columbia University and author of the book “The Lonely Soldier; The Private War of Women Servicingin Iraq (Beacon 2009)”
Professor Benedict was on a mission to be the first one to publish a book about military women and expose the sexual assault that occurs for many women who serve in the military. Her way of telling these soties have heighten the separation between men and women who serve through the message that men and women cannot trust each other and that assault only happens to women.
Pof. Benedict traveled around the country to speak with women she interviewed. She claims that she wrote this book to educate and bring awareness to the assaults that occur with femaile military women. she made herself out to be the an expert on sexual assault for military women without ever serving in the military. She has dismissed the voices of veterans even as she uses the stories seh obtained to become that expert leaving some of us with the pain of the misuse of our stories, of our lives, in order to benefit her own career.
The veteran community has had enough of her bashing all men who serve in the military as though none of the women who have served ever had a male in their command that they could trust. While some of the women in the book are outraged that their stories are portrayed as victims of their circumstance blaming society of their living conditions for their choices they made that led them to the military.
While interviewing me at my home in Merced California in 2007, Benedict acted as though se was full of concern, assured me of follow up and that she would tell my story in a respectful manner. Exaggeration of the story was never part of the deal. Living in fear was not and is not an accurate way of portraying the life of Eli PaintedCrow.
Benedict exploited my culture and identity as a native woman, so that her readers could culture to open a door to native women who serve for others to consume a "native woman veteran" experience. This, is my view, is the most exploitative strategy that a journalist could use to bring attention to herself. Perhaps, it is not surprising, but its very disappointing that in this day and age, some journalists have no code of erthices or boundaries even when this involves damaging the very human beings, they write about.
In 2010, Professor Benedict presented her book to the Department of Social Work at Columbia University to use these stories as a textbook for the graduating class of 400 students. These students were required to assess diagnose, and provide an intervention and treatment plan for my life as the graduating thesis.
The project included poster boards with my name and picture. All of this was done without my permission or awareness. Benedict must feel very proud that she was able to sell 400 book and have it used as a textbook. She shows no concern for those for she wrote about. She was willing to sell us out or sell me out to the highest bidder without regard to how this act would impact my mental well-being. It seems that there shoudl be some eithical rules on interviewing traumatized interviewees.
Helen Benedict has offended the military community with her voice of authority and expertise that she expresses through our stories. She claims secondary PTSD based on hearing our stories. Perhaps she should read/write about her own PTSD instead of claiming that she has become a victim through writing a book about the suffering of women who serve.
Is she the example of supporting the troops? Her intent however noble she tries to makes it sound, is nothing more than self- serving. She dishonors military service members and the fact that the civilian population accepts her work as honoring and respectful to those she claims to represent is a lie. This is what you can expect from a Professor of an Ivy League University.
Shame on You Helen Benedict for your exploitation of military service traumas and for creating a one sided view of men and women who serve. Shame on the University of Columbia for allowing such things to be done by a Professor who teaches how to best exploit a story.
Yes, we signed releases but who knew that telling a story could turn me into a lab rat for research to 400 Social Work graduating students and that Professor Benedict would lead the way in this disrespectful act towards military personnel? Is this how she supports the troops? Who needs enemies?
Former Staff Sergeant, USAF Marti D. Ribeiro,Interviewed for
"The Lonely Soldier"
2 May 2011
To whom it may concern:
It was recently brought to my attention that the Masters of Social Work program at Columbia University is using “Lonely Soldier” by Helen Benedict as a textbook this semester. While I’m not one of the main characters, my story is part of the content of Ms. Benedict’s book.
I applaud the faculty for wanting to introduce the students to the woman veteran, and their unique issues. Having attempted to get help for my own issues through the VA, I understand that I’m a strange animal and social workers and psychologists don’t have a lot of experience in dealing with female veterans. But, I don’t believe the manner in which this learning experience was facilitated was done with respect to the veteran(s).
While all of us featured in the book gave permission for our story to be used, most of us did not give permission to be dissected. For some of us, it’s hard to discuss these life events – sometimes re-traumatizing ourselves just through vocalization of our experiences. It’s even more traumatizing to think that an entire class of 400+ students is figuratively pulling apart the mind of one of my sisters (Eli Paintedcrow) without ever having met her. While not having any experience in social work, is this normal? Do students normally pick apart real people via textbook?
This probably wouldn’t have been an issue, if the “Lonely Soldier” had been received positively by the female veteran community.
While it does shed light on a topic that is not often talked about, it paints female veterans as down-trodden, desperate and sometimes naïve individuals, who could do nothing better with their life than join the military. I came from a proud family of military members and for the most part, loved my time in the service. I loved what I did and chose the military on purpose; having always wanted to join since I was a young girl. It wasn’t a last resort or the desperate attempt of a woman who had no other choice in life. I graduated the top of my class in high school and have earned both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree. I’m not desperate, or naïve. So, I resent the fact that the “Lonely Soldier” portrays my sisters and I that way.
What happened to me, or to us, wasn’t because of our background. It was because the military allows it. So, it’s hard to swallow the idea that a class from Columbia University is teaching their students to diagnose and treat one of my sisters through a book that doesn’t accurately portray how strong we really are.
If you want to learn about women veterans and their issues and experiences, then talk to one. Don’t read a book written by someone who’s never served in the military and doesn’t truly understand what it’s like to be one of us.
Very Respectfully,
Marti D. Ribeiro
Former Staff Sergeant, USAF