Trauma and Recovery: The Aftermath of Violence - from Domestic Abuse to Political Terror

In the Afterword, Herman reflects on Trauma and Recovery, restating her intention to build a comprehensive “body of knowledge” (337) and reaffirming that the study of trauma is “inherently political,” due to its close ties to systemic oppression. She recalls that the book was first published during what seemed like a more hopeful era, when social progress in the United States felt within reach. However, many forms of structural violence—such as racism in the justice system and the ongoing “war on drugs”—remain deeply entrenched. The 9/11 attacks, she notes, revealed the country’s vulnerability and triggered counterinsurgency wars that, like the Vietnam War, have left many veterans struggling with combat-related trauma. To illustrate this, Herman includes excerpts from Phil Klay’s “Redeployment,” a short story whose protagonist experiences post-traumatic symptoms following military service.

Herman observes that PTSD is now widely recognized, yet veterans continue to report high rates of the disorder. Those with a history of childhood trauma or those who harmed non-combatants are at increased risk. She also notes the growing number of women in the military, many of whom report experiencing sexual violence—now formally categorized as “MST, or military sexual trauma” (344).

Although war trauma remains a dominant cultural focus, Herman argues that the majority of traumatic experiences take place in civilian life.