At War

     After reading these two articles I was quite torn. On one side I was relieved and happy for the women in the army who reported in Living and Fighting Alongside Men, and Fitting In. The women who were interviewed believed that there was much equality in the army. While at WarHorse only 1/20 soldiers are women, the women who are stationed there are respected, often hold high rankings, and work in units that were historically reserved for men. Much has changed in the army, for the better. However I was also upset to learn more about the problems of sexual harassment and assault in the army addressed in A Peril In Warzones: Sexual Abuse by Fellow G.I.'s. The women who were interviewed for this article expressed fear, worry, and frustration at the lack of aid victims of sexual harassment and assault receive. The victims are often kicked out of their station, blamed or not believed. Not much action has been done for those who come forward with a complaint, and then there are still many many more who have not come forward at all despite the trauma they have endured.
     The army mentality is strong even when it comes to reporting cases of sexual assault. Women are afraid to address their superiors about such personal matters and also often fear that their problem is nothing to the other problems they face daily at war. People see a stalking complaint as nothing compared to a bomb going off. And so the army mentality needs to be tweaked once again. And yes it has been done, the army mentality was changed with the acceptance of women into the armed forces. The army was forced to accept that this could no longer be a boys club, and that women are as capable as men when it comes to war. Except for some occasional comments and remarks faced by army women, it was stated in the article that today most women don't feel like they have to try extra hard to prove that they deserve to be there. They don't feel the need to show the men what they're capable of, because almost all soldiers accept that women are needed in the army too. This change in mentality has come over quite quickly and except for a few bumps in the road, like rude name calling which is hopefully being addressed. And so, like that change, it needs to be done again so that men and women who are sexually assaulted or harassed feel comfortable going to their superior to make a complaint. They shouldn't be punished or even mocked like some of the women who were interviewed in the article. After a complaint a case should begin, and the perpetrator questioned and then relieved of his or her duties if he or she is proven guilty.
     It's going to be a challenge bringing down the problem of sexual assault and harassment in the army especially because it's so hard to tell what the figures really are given how few report. All I can be thankful for is that with the recent publicity that the army, the navy etc. have faced over these issues, change should come. People are angry and upset, I am too, it's not right that this is happening frequently and with little consequence to the aggressor. As individuals who are not in command or in the army, the best we can do is voice our concern, get a little angry and try for change. We need to support the men and women who are trying to do the same for us everyday.