Article 4f: Front and center: Sexual violence in US military law (Hillman, 2009)

Question 1

Evidence of military-on-military sexual violence

Answer 1

• Sexual harassment is very common in the US military.
• Female militants are 10-20% more likely to be the victim of sexual assault compared to civilian women. They also have a higher chance of developing trauma-related disorders after the military.
• 1 in 4 veterans in state prisons are sex offenders.

Question 2

Reasons for sexual violence in the US military

Answer 2

• Hierarchical power structure
• Masculinist military identity
• Remote deployment complicated the reporting
• Male-on-male sexual violence is rarely reporting due to fear of being asked about your sexuality.

Question 3

Reasons for underreporting of sexual violence in the US military

Answer 3

• Feeling of being disloyal to your comrades.
• Feelings of weakness the admitting it.
• Being afraid to harm the identity of the army.

Question 4

Efforts for change

Answer 4

• Cultural change: address hypermasculinity and gender dynamics that normalise tolerance of violence.
• Improved accountability: strengthen investigative and prosecutorial mechanisms to ensure justice.
• Training: implementing education on consent, boundaries and professional conduct.
• Support systems: providing confidential reporting channels and victim support services.

Question 5

The military responses to sexual violence

Answer 5

• Only 14% of the sexual assault cases end in criminal charges.
• 15% of this receive non-criminal disciplinary actions.

Question 6

Changes in US military law

Answer 6

• Constructive Force Doctrine: allowed prosecution of sexual violence based on coercion rather than overt physical force.
• Revised article 120: included 14 specific offences, such as rape, aggravated assault and sex-related crimes.

Question 7

Race and equality

Answer 7

Race plays an enormous role in the conviction of militants for sexual assault charges, as a disproportionate number of black men are convicted, while there not being evidence for a higher number of sexual assault among black men.
Low-ranking men are also more often convicted than high-ranking men.
There is a cultural resistance to change.