Essay on Rape and Sexual Assault in the Military

In the past, military news typically evolved tragic training incidents or deaths during overseas combat. However, over the last several years many incidents involving military personnel and sexual assault have made headlines across the United States. Military women and men have brought to light the lack of justice for victims of sexual assault, and the prevalence of such attacks. Questions arise as to why victims do not report incidents or seek assistance when they are physically or sexually assaulted. Many reasons are due to how the system of reporting is established within the military, retaliation and further re-victimization within the chain of command. Modifications to the current system have begun within the Department of Defense and

Throughout the world, deviant acts and social controls are committed everyday. An incredibly significant one that is often unreported is sexual assault within the military. Sexual assault is already determined as an extremely deviant act throughout the world. All acts of rape and other abusive acts should never be dismissed or ignored, but rape within the military is often not reported or recognized. If it is brought to light, the victims are generally in fear of losing their positions, rankings, homes, relationships with their spouses and families, etc…. This is not to state that men are not also victims of sexual assault, but women are much more prone and vulnerable to being attacked and harassed. I will be focusing on the female victims of military assault in this paper.

The way we interact with each other in our Army culture impacts the way we perceive behavior in relation to sexual assault and harassment. For instance, a culture that allows discriminating jokes or demeaning behavior helps to perpetuate an environment in which sexual assaults and harassment occur. Also, a Command that fails to punish or can be perceived to fail to punish perpetrators of sexual assault can further perpetuate a harmful environment and degrade unit morale and mission readiness. When you walk away from a deficiency, you have created a new standard.

“The most shocking cover up in the United States Military is not what you would expect (The Invisible War),” reports of sexual assaults over all branches of the military have tremendously increase every since women have been allow to take part of the military. According to the Secretary of Defense, over 500,000 male and female soldiers have suffered of sexual abuse from senior peers and commanders. During the past years, many women reported a variety of cases of sexual abuse. Sadly, the victims were only ignored, blamed and punished for the events. Sexual assaults are considered a scandalous subject which our military has decided to avoid, but by doing so, the number of rapes has increase even faster. Rape is a repetitive criminal;

In “The Invisible War,” it is noted that “women who have been raped in the military have a PTSD rate higher than men who have been in combat” (The Invisible War, 2012). The impact that military sexual assault has on victims is tremendous. Both physical and mental trauma are common, and they play a significant role in how victims of sexual assault are able to return to their daily lives.

US Armed Forces is historically an organization lead by men, for men. It is comprised of about 14.5 % female and 85.5% male according to a 2011poll (CNN U.S, Jan 2014). In an organization with a rich history and legacy of obedience and restraint, it is hard to imagine the secret society of “The good ol boys”. It has been acceptable for men to “work hard, play hard”. We have all seen the movies where the men come back from overseas, invade the bars, have a good time, take a girl home, and it is acceptable behavior. What happens after they leave the bar? What happens when she says no? In November of 2013, there were 3,553 reported sexual assault cases (ABC News, 2013).

Rape has been a weapon of war for as long as armies have marched into battle. By the 20th century, attitudes of rape in war have gone from something that is inevitable because men are deprived of female companionship for long periods of time

“She was drunk she does not remember.” “She’s lying; she just wants a promotion.” “Everyone on base has had sex with her, she’s a whore.” These are all signs why women are afraid to speak out about an attack in the armed forces. Sexual assault happens all over the world, especially in the military. It can be hard to believe because, most people join the military to better themselves and be a role model for others. Society’s views on the military are that they are saviors just simply trying to fight for their country, they are not seen attacking their own. Women and men are both suppose to join together and fight for their country rather then fighting against each other. This is saddening because the military

More than a decade after rape or physical assault during military service, women reported severely decreased health-related quality of life, with limitations of physical and emotional health, educational and financial attainment, and severe, recurrent problems with work and social activities.” (Para 4.) The article talks about the frequency of women getting raped or sexually assaulted, and the injuries that these women face physically and emotionally, even years after the incident occurs. In this particular study, a “Cohort of women veterans who served in the Vietnam, post-Vietnam, or Persian Gulf War era was selected.” (Para 9.) Around six hundred women participated in this study, and “Almost half the participants (48%) reported some type of physical or sexual victimization during their military service. Physical assault was reported by 35%, and most (58%) had been assaulted at least twice. Rape was reported by 30%, in 11% it was attempted and in 19% completed.” The seriousness of these situations recurring should not go

The article “All Guts, No Glory” by Molly M. Ginty talks about how we should recognize women in combat. Women being in the military should be respected to the same amount that men are respected. Being in combat should not have anything to do with your gender; I believe it should truly be based off your ability to fight. With that being said, I agree completely when it comes to women being in the military. The article mentions that women go through a lot of harassment and assault, all because they are female in combat. I find that to be sexist, women are capable of doing just as much as men are, and maybe most of the time even more. If I were to ever serve in the military that is one thing that I would fear. I would not fear being harassed because

When talking about allowing women into combat units and areas of war abuse of the soldier should be at the top of the concern list. Abuse of a female soldier can take place not only as a prisoner of war but with their own personal unit members. When allowing men and women to work alongside each other for days on end away from civilization fraternization can take place, wanted or not. When taken as a prisoner of war soldiers are captured and men as well as women are put though horrifying torture to retrieve information. This information can range from unit Intel, American Intel, and even personal family Intel. Although men can be raped, a women put in this very position will most of the time be raped while a man would be passed over. Given most women have a family of some kind being tortured for information by use of her family is a sure thing. Misogynistic societies will be more willing to abuse women soldiers at a time of war over men knowing here in American rape is wrong in American eyes. Given a women is more likely to be rape the male soldiers will put themselves in harm’s way more often should a women be injured or taken hostage. A male soldier knowing a women soldier is laying on the battle field injured and could be taken hostage is more likely to risk his own life to save hers knowing it could be a lost cause all

The military has become the epicenter for rape and abuse of women, all of which military officials have swept aside with all too little concern. Case after case of rape and sexual harassment are dismissed with little to no investigation made. The women of the military live scared of their male superiors and colleagues, and what they might do. Victims of sexual harassment or rape often see their pursuers honorably discharged and returned to society with no criminal record.

Beginning in the 1970’s the CAF expanded the roles of women in the force, especially after the introduction of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms in 1982. The CAF proudly boasts 14.8% of those working for the force are women (Statistics Canada, 2016). However, 1.7% (960 force members) reported being victims of sexual assault in 2016 alone. Additionally, of these 960 cases, 1/4 reported the assault to a supervisor and 1/10 reported to the military police (Statistics Canada, 2016). This suggests there is a barrier preventing men and women alike from reporting their assault.

The process of moving forward and advancing women’s rights have become more and more important to America. Deciding to lift the ban on women in combat became a more talked about issue than people thought. This topic raises a mass of questions. Women deserve rights equivalent to those of men. Women have been looked upon as the weaker gender for centuries; however, in recent years, they seem to play much larger roles in society and must be afforded the same opportunities as men to excel and advance in the military.

The topic of women in combat is an ongoing debate that is currently being argued in many places, commonly in the United States. Women in combat next to men and a free women combat are two different perspectives in which women in combat are defined by their gender. Women in combat will provide help to those men who are to attend a combat. A free-women combat, on the other hand, prevents women from dying during combat due to not being allowed in combat. Since Women aren’t able to be included in any job in the military and have a right to be equally treated like men in combat, it’ll be unfair to more people. Women should be given the same right as men out in battlefields because “women serving in the armed forces has not wavered as warfare has changed, a clear sign that the necessity of women serving in combat is recognized.” In addition, “several other countries outside the U.S. already have women serving on the front lines.” Lastly, “Combat is nothing new to our women in the military. Several women have already given their lives serving in combat.” Women have, over the years, worked hard to get awarded the choice towards their career. Although it prevents more deaths, it’s also a sexist matter. Any job in the military should be a choice for women, it’s their career after all and they can make their own decisions.