Sexual is a term referring to gender or the two sexes. It is also related to the instincts that are physiological and all those activities that are connected with physical attraction. In this context, the term sexual refers to involvement in a sexual relationship or being in an intimate sexual relationship like that of a husband and wife.
On the other hand, harassment is a situation in which one experiences an intense annoyance as a result of receiving torment and torture in terms of humiliation, embarrassment or any act of intimidation or threat. To be more specific, harassment can comprise a series of incidents but can be one severe incident that will have lasting repurcations on the individual. This is a behavior that with persistence, it pressures, frightens, intimidates or incapacitates the victim. It is a behavior with a repetitive characteristic which produces harmful effects.
Sexual harassment is divided into three categories. Verbal, non-verbal and physical contact. Verbal conduct of sexual nature involves things like whistling at someone or making cat calls, making sexual comments, turning work discussions to sexual topics, telling sexual jokes or stories, asking personal questions about social or sexual life, sexual fantasies, preferences or history and even telling lies or spreading rumors about a person’s personal sex life.
Whereas physical conduct of sexual nature includes things like, giving one un-anticipated massage around the neck or shoulders, touching of a person’s clothing, hair or body and even rubbing oneself sexually around another person. Other are non-verbal conducts of sexual nature that could take the form of; staring at someone, following that person, looking at a person up and down also referred to as ‘elevator eyes’, another is displaying sexually suggestive visuals and also giving personal gifts. All these acts contribute to the whole act of sexual harassment which occurs to us throughout our daily lives without our knowledge (AR 600-20, 68) .To add onto that, sexual harassment exists in two different types. The hostile environment and ‘quid pro quo’ a Latin name for “this for that”. The hostile environment sexual harassment is one that occurs when civilians or soldiers are forced to offensive, unwanted comments or behaviors of sexual nature. In many instances, these behaviors interfere with their performance, regardless of whether the victim and the harasser are in the same surrounding or workplace in such situations the environment is classified as hostile. Such circumstances are neither healthy nor conducive for working or carrying out one’s duties while being in stable and normal conditions (AR 600-20, 68).
Quid pro quo entails a person placing conditions on a person’s career or terms of employment in return for favors. It includes threats of adverse actions if the person does not submit and if the person does submit they are promised favorable actions. Examples of such occurrences are; demanding sexual favors in exchange for a promotion, award or favorable assignment. The consequences of not submitting include, disciplining a subordinate who refuses sexual advances and threats of poor job evaluation.
The incidents of “Quid pro quo” can also have a harassing effect on third parties. They could raise several allegations of sexual favoritism. They even experience general discrimination when they feel unfairly deprived of recognition, advancement or denied career opportunities because of favoritism shown to another colleague on the basis of a sexual relationship. In the military context, a good example would be a soldier who is not recommended for promotion and who believes that their squad leader recommended another soldier in the same squad for promotion, on the basis of provided or promised sexual favors not upon merit, individual’s effort or ability (AR 600-20, 68).
Sexual harassment has become a rampant issue in the military especially in the Navy section. Cases like an army sergeant allegedly forcing subordinates into prostitution and assaulting more women. It is reported; recently, in USA through the Pentagon’s latest report that sexual assault in the military has risen to epidemic levels. In the year 2012, the estimates were that there were over 26,000 cases in the armed forces. This is an increase of one third from the previous year.
Despite the focused efforts to prevent sexual assault through the establishment of the Sexual Assault Prevention Response Office (SAPRO) in 2005 and annual prevention training, the prevalence of sexual assault has only increased.
Reports have it that, there are many cases of sexual assault involving cadets and midshipmen. The rate is going higher as days go by. There has been a slight increase in the prevalence rate of unwanted or unwelcomed sexual contact among female cadets at the United States Military Academy. There has been no change in the prevalence of unwanted sexual contact among male cadets and midshipmen.
These occurrences, are confronting Chief Naval Operations and the Academy Superintendent with a task to counteract the growth of such immoral practices by increasing the personal safety of midshipmen on campus. They are also dedicating themselves into fostering a command climate more conducive to the reporting of sexual offences. Results from the survey help to identify improvements in the accountability, training and reporting features of the program. Specific actions items include:
Sexual Assault “Stamp out” Stand-down conducted upon the Brigade’s on their return include the recently developed Fleet Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Training for each and every Midshipman. The safety of the Brigade improves through an increase of leadership presence in the dormitory and campus facilities. Victim support should improve through the provision of additional civilian Sexual Assault Response Coordinators and Victim Advocates, policies implemented to increase the confidentiality of victims reporting sexual assaults. Midshipmen undergo screening for past experiences of sexual assault in order to provide appropriate victim support (SECNAVIST 5300 26C, 8)
Other efforts to counteract sexual harassment and assault include; Improving sexual assault and prevention response education, services and training through the integration of the best Fleet and Department Of Defense practices. Highlighting of the factors leading to sexual assault such as alcohol drinking occurs through the use of random breathalyzer tests. Removal and identification of causative factors through organization of reach outs.
All these efforts are employed to assert confidence in midshipmen towards the efforts by Naval Academy in addressing and resolving all incidents of sexual harassment and unwanted sexual contact. More so, this is done to ensure everyone at the Naval Academy promotes healthy environment where this type of behaviors is identified and ultimately eliminated. Navy being an institution that produces future leaders, it aims at initiating and preserving a climate where all midshipmen treat one another and expected dignified and respectful treatment (Patani, 4).
REFERENCES
AR-600-20. Chapter 7. Prevention of Sexual Harass m.A (2008). web< http: www.sexualassault.army.mil/files/r600_20_chapter 7.pdf. >[Accessed 10th July, 2013].
Patani, Arif. Sexual Harassment and Violence at the Military Service Academies. Navy Live (2012). Web<http: www.navylive.dodlive.mil/2012/21/sexual-harassment-and-violence-at-the-military-service-academies/> [Accessed 10th July 2013].
SECNAVINST 5300.26C Enclosure 2(1997).web>http:// www.uscg,mil/hq/cgooh/History-files/NavySexualHarassment.pdf
