THE EFFECTS AND PREVENTION OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT
Sexual harassment training is mandated by the United States Navy to be conducted within 90 days of joining and annually thereafter. Though a major focus is on preventing sexual harassment it still is a major problem throughout the military in general. Navy core values, and the Sailors Creed are some of the main guidelines that Sailors are expected to follow. The military has established sexual assault programs, family support centers, and numerous other avenues to alleviate sexual harassment. With the development and training that has been implemented we can ask ourselves does sexual harassment still occur today? The answer is yes, which leads to the following questions: Is unit readiness affected
…show more content…
How do we combat sexual harassment? Lastly, who does sexual harassment affect?
Sexual harassment is a form of sex discrimination that involves unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature (DON Policy, 2005). Some statistics include the following: According to a report from rt.com sexual assaults in the US military increased by over 50 percent in 2013. Data obtained shows that there were more than 5,000 sexual assault reports during the 2013 fiscal year. By contrast, there were 3,374 incidents reported in 2012. The new data shows that the increase in reports across all branches of the military range from 45 percent in the Air Force to a high of 86 percent in the Marines. The Navy saw a 46 percent jump in reports, while the largest service, the Army, saw a 50 percent spike. (RT.com, 2013). With these troubling statistics, one can only determine that sexual
…show more content…
Leaders must recognize that the military is comprised of a diverse population and that all everyone is unique and may not have the same set of values. Sailors must be educated each and every day on moral conduct and be aware of what they truly represent. Sailors must understand and embody the values and standards of conduct commensurate with the Navy Core Values. From their first day in the Navy we must instill in them what is morally right and more importantly the ability to make the morally right decisions. In order to combat sexual harassment everyone must be involved and vigilant on certain situations that may increase the chances of sexual harassment. Alcohol is a major factor especially when a Sailor is alone with the opposite sex. As a leader we need to be aware of our Sailors liberty plans and ensure they’re aware of the consequences of their actions. The most important thing we all can do as leaders is set the example. If a leader does not lead by promoting a moral character at all times and make the right decisions, a junior Sailor will do the
From the end of the draft in 1973 to the military data from 2003, the number of women in service rose from 2 percent to 12 percent. A sample of military women studied in 1991 showed 69 percent to have experienced sexual harassmen...
Sexual harassment by definition is based on conduct of a sexual nature. An article on ENotes.com describes sexual harassment as;
Stephanie Schroeder was twenty one when she joined the United States Marine Corps shortly after the attack on the World Trader Center. In 2002, Schroeder’s life changed when a fellow Marine beat and raped her in a bathroom. Rather than punishing her assailant, a non-commissioned officer told Schroeder, “Don’t come bitching to me because you had sex and changed your mind” (Martin). Shortly after, Schroder was discharged for a personality disorder that she claims was because she tried to report the incident. Unfortunately, Schroeder’s story is not uncommon. Each year, approximately 26,000 service people are sexually assaulted by other service people each year in the United States military (US Commission on Civil Rights). The Tailhook scandal in 1991, in which 90 service people were sexually assaulted by United States Navy and Marine Corps personnel, shed light on the harmful epidemic of sexual assault in the United States military, but it still goes on today, over twenty years later. Congress has created several pieces of legislation to crack down on the staggering amount of sexual assault that has been going on for decades. Some of the proposed solutions to stop this problem are extreme, such as removing women from certain combat roles, and others are helpful but inadequate, like Senator McCaskill’s recently passed bill, which makes smaller changes to the current military system of handling sexual assault. But neither of these solutions will eradicate the epidemic of sexual assault in the United States military.
Sexual harassment is defined by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission as “unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical harassment of a sexual nature” (EEOC). In many cases, these can be hostile, aggressive, and violent. However, harassment does not have to be overtly sexual to be unlawful. It can include repeated offensive comments and verbal abuse. When sexual harassment occurs in the workplace, it can create an intimidating situation from which the victim feels he or she cannot escape.
The purpose of this essay is to discuss the issue of rape and sexual assault in the military. The number of attacks for rape and sexual assault in the military are at an all-time high. Women have recently been allowed to fight on the front line. While this may be a huge achievement for women-kind, for this woman, it is a very scary thought. I am a junior at Texas Academy of Biomedical Sciences; a school geared towards students wishing to enter the medical field. I may be forced to join the military one day if a war breaks out and women are needed to protect the country. I would be happy to serve my country if I did not have to be scared of my fellow soldiers. Rape and sexual assault are major issues in the military and have been for many years without much effort to decrease the attacks. I am suggesting that unless the rape and sexual assault issue is fixed, the amount of people joining the military, specifically the women, will decrease greatly.
Sexual assault in the military has become one of the most controversial of all issues that have been discussed over the years. The topic has received extensive media coverage and has contributed to multiple media scandals. According to a Newsweek report done in 2011, women are more likely to be assaulted by fellow soldiers than killed in combat. The Department of Defense estimates approximately 19,000 sexual assaults occur per year amongst military personnel. That number is stifling considering that in the last year only 1,108 troops filed for investigation, and of those only 575 cases were processed. Out of the 575 processed cases only 96 went to Court Martial. Obviously from the numbers, sexual assault is a serious issue in the military. Much like in the civilian world there is bias when it comes to the guilt or innocence of the attacker, as well as the validity in the accounts of the accuser. I believe that the system in place may inadvertently contribute to the continuous rise in sexual assaults and that if this system isn’t fixed quickly, it will be detrimental to the organization as a whole. Sexual assault has seriously negative impacts on service members and their families. That impact carries over to their work, limiting mission readiness, and undermining national security.
Sexual Assault in the military has become an uprising problem. Within the military community, the term sexual assault carries a meaning that includes everything from violent sexual acts such as rape and forcible sodomy, to assault with intent to commit rape, unwanted sexual touching or attention and being a witness of the crime and not reporting it. Although most believe those who commit such heinous crimes are usually a person or persons with a violent record, violence is not a prerequisite for sexual assault. Once a service member becomes a victim of sexual assault, they become much more than a victim of just the crime itself. They fall victim to their own thoughts, never being able to trust their chain of command again, jeopardizing careers
The US Military has a long history and jaded history of issues with sexual assault. The number of women sexually assaulted in the US Military is 5% higher than that of women in the ficivilian population; there are an estimated 20,000 sexual assaults on women service members each year. This is not, however, a strictly female problem; it is estimated that nearly half of...
Because it is a form of sexual harassment, victims under Article 117a are entitled to receive SHARP services. This will include referrals to behavioral health, victim witness assistance program, special victim witness liaisons, and chaplains. The military men and women who have been victimized by the offenses covered under the new Article deserve the full support from their command. Although, military officials have grown to support its' sexual harassment victims and to prosecute the offenders, the overall responsibility of protecting the service members falls within their own ranks.
The primary reason to support the perspectives of the assigned source is that any peoples whose identity is based on a common history have the right to pursue self-determinism. In terms of the essay, “common history” may be referred to as similar, and consistent historical events where a particular group is treated the same, particularly, being discriminated against. This argumentation is supported by a myriad of case studies that will further promote and embrace the assigned source. Quebec’s situation through its history directly establish the reasons for self-determinism. The French people have been discriminated against and suffered socially and economically since their defeat by the British in the Plains of Abraham of 1759.
The U.S Equal Employment Opportunity Commission describes sexual harassment as a form of gender discrimination that is in violation of the Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. Undesirable sexual advances, request for sexual favors, and further verbal and physical conduct of a sexual nature constitutes sexual harassment, when compliance to or refusal of this behavior explicitly or implicitly affects an individual employment (EEOC).
For some, sexual harassment and assault seem almost like myths or bad dreams. For others, it's a living reality. The United States Department of Justice defines sexual assault as “any type of sexual contact or behavior that occurs without the explicit consent of the recipient.” Sexual harassment and assault are demeaning, terrifying, and forceful behaviors. And yet, it’s happening every day. People hollering out car windows at pedestrians. Groups of teenagers terrifying
General Quarters with my Sailors! As Sailor in a leadership position I have to be able to let our sailors know what is expected of them; to question, clarify, or inform them of what is expected of them. My first goal is to continue to grow as a listener. Communication requires two individuals in order to be successful, and at bare minimum I am communicating, as well as, listening to at least fifteen Sailor’s a day. Because listening is so crucial to effective communication, I need to and want to learn more about it. We have a saying in the Navy “A bitching sailor is a happy sailor” and for the most part, it is a pretty accurate statement. One thing that I can say is that sailors like to be heard. Dianne Schilling in an article for Forbes Magazine (2012) wrote, “At work, ...
In conclusion, sexual harassment in a workplace is a major problem in the modern working environment with significant impacts on organizational productivity, employee morale, and employee satisfaction. This form of discrimination occurs in various ways include requests for sexual favors, unwanted sexual advances or behaviors, threats, derogatory comments, and rape. The prevention of sexual harassment incidents requires the establishment of effective workplace policies and practices as well as concerted efforts by employers and employees.
Sexual Harassment/Assault is a growing issue in the U.S. In this paper I will highlight the meaning of sexual harassment, some of the signs, behavior theories, and concepts of being sexually harassed. The history of sexual harassment dates back to slave days when it didn’t really have a meaning or name but women activist were protesting against it. I will explore the statistics of sexual harassment and how it occurs more common in women. Also I will connect my personal experiences as a teenager dealing with my sister being sexually harassed at her first job. Research shows that women are more affected by being sexually harassed or abused especially when it happens at their job. They find it more difficult to carry on after they have been harassed and to move on comfortably. This issue usually has a more long term effect on women then it would have on men. Men are usually the ones who initiate any sexual act that’s going to take place. Therefore it’s more common to find that the men are harassing the women not saying it’s never vice versa but women are shown more in my research. My personal experiences aren’t exactly direct but it gave me a firsthand view on how this issue is sometimes hard to recognize but very prominent in society today. Studies show that being sexually harassed can effect and devastate your psychological health, physical well-being and vocational development. Therefore it’s better to be aware of the history, and behavioral concepts of this issue to avoid it from happening to you.