Sexual Assault In The Military

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Only recently has there been extensive attention paid to the issue of sexual assault in the military. Sexual assault in the military is not new, but has been largely under-reported due to reluctance on the part of victims to take action after assault, and to a climate of denial and/or secrecy among military authorities. The widespread problem of sexual assault in the military was finally brought to light following a series of high profile incidents, which resulted in the obvious need for scrutiny (Schenck 587). Among the events that created awareness of the problem were the 1996 cases of army assaults and harassment at various training sites, such as the Aberdeen Proving Ground and Fort Leonard Wood. There was also the earlier Tail Hook …show more content…
Research studies on the issue show that the organizational structure of the military contributes greatly to the problem. Traditional and stereotypical attitudes about women are common in the military, perpetuating the belief that women are unsuitable for leadership positions. Physical strength is seen to be a measure of authority, which puts women at a disadvantage (Sadler, Booth, Cook and Doebbeling 263). These and other such attitudes that are entrenched in military culture and structure contribute greatly to the widespread sexual assault. This paper will seek to establish that sexual assault in the military is associated with poor military organization, structure and …show more content…
Intra-military sexual assault also constitutes a gender crime because sexual violence has been recognized as a form of gender discrimination in itself. Therefore, the intra-military sexual assault should be of concern to all within the international community dedicated to eradicating gender inequality and gender-based violence. Both men and women experience great pressure to conform to certain masculine norms in the military. These attitudes contribute to higher rates of sexual crimes within the armed forces, deter reporting of these crimes, and lead to a general feeling in the military that women, and also even some men, do not belong as members of its ranks. Other forms of gender discrimination prevalent in the military also have led to an increased incidence of sexual violence. However, male soldiers may be more likely than women to remain silent when they are sexually assaulted This is because the very same notions of masculinity that contributes to sexual assault produces stigma and feelings of shame in many male victims, preventing them from reporting sexual crimes. On the other hand, female soldiers often suffer in silence, as they are more likely to be victimized by sexual crimes, and are less likely to feel that if they report their allegation to a superior, their allegation will be taken seriously. Also, the problem of viewing women as the “other” is usually particularly
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