Stephanie Bonnes

This project investigates the US military's response to sexual violence from the perspective of practitioners who work directly with victims. Despite the Department of Defense's ongoing efforts to mitigate sexual violence, sexual harassment and assault remain a pervasive issue. Through in-depth interviews with victim advocates, military lawyers, and Sexual Harassment/Assault Response (SHARP) representatives, this research explores how these professionals approach their work, understand victimization, and perceive barriers to supporting victims. This study uncovers the organizational practices and assumptions about sexual violence embedded in victim support roles, offering insight into institutional factors that perpetuate inequality and hinder prevention.