Publication year
2015
Citation Title
Servicewomen’s strategies to staying safe during military service.
Journal Name
Gender Issues
Journal Volume
32
Issue Number
1
Page Numbers
1-18
DOI
10.1007/s12147-014-9128-8
Summary
Female Service members from multiple branches participated in fourteen focus groups regarding efforts to stay safe during military service. They described numerous strategies to reduce their vulnerability to harassment or abuse, including drawing upon social support, creating buddy systems, and dressing in masculine clothing to mask their femininity.
Key Findings
Women used several protective strategies to stay safe during military service, including relying on their support networks of “female battle buddies.”
Participants indicated that older, more senior Service women took on nurturing, protective roles of their junior colleagues.
Many women described attempts to hide their femininity and blend in with their male colleagues to decrease their vulnerability to sexual harassment or abuse, such as by wearing loose clothing and their uniforms, even when off duty.
Participants reported that they avoid directly challenging the social hierarchy of the military, rape myths, or sexualized portrayals of military women.
Implications for Program Leaders
Develop support programs for female military personnel, affording them opportunities to exchange social support
Involve both men and women in work groups on installations to promote safety and minimize acts of violence
Participate in activities as part of Sexual Assault Awareness Month to promote awareness of sexual violence and inform military families about local resources
Implications for Policy Makers
Recommend organizational-level interventions to promote gender equality and safety for all military personnel, such as the creation of gender advisors to decision makers
Ensure that female Service members have separate, private living spaces and access to providers with expertise in women’s health
Suggest that commanders offer gender awareness training on all installations, sensitizing military personnel to the necessity of respectful treatment of all coworkers and the inappropriateness of sexual harassment
Methods
With contact information provided by the Defense Manpower Data Center, researchers mailed potential participants letters about the study.
From 2007-2010, fourteen focus groups were conducted in five Midwestern states.
In-depth statistical analyses were used to examine the relationships among themes.
Participants
Female service personnel (N = 61), ranging in age from 23-61 years (average age = 40, SD= 9.8).
Regarding demographic variables, 74% were White, 64% were in the Reserves or National Guard, and 36% were in the Active forces or Veterans.
Half (51%) of Service women had deployed; of those, half had deployed more than once.
Limitations
The average age of participants (40 years) was relatively old for the demographic group of women at highest risk for sexual assault during military service (18-24 years), which may limit the ability to generalize findings.
Due to the voluntary nature of participation (those who responded to an invitation letter), it is unknown how participants may have differed from other women.
Data were collected from five Midwestern states which limits the diversity of the sample.
Avenues for Future Research
Replicate this study with a more diverse sample, including younger Service members from across the country
Gather data from male Service members, inquiring about their experiences of sexual harassment and assault
Ascertain the perspectives of both men and women on the feasibility and acceptability of strategies to directly address sexualized depictions of military women
Focus
Multiple Branches
Target Population
Population Focus
Military Branch
Military Component
Abstract
Numerous studies have documented high rates of sexual harassment and sexual assault among servicewomen during military service. In this study, we qualitatively explore the strategies United States servicewomen employed to reduce their risk of violence exposure during their military service. Based on the analysis of 14 focus group discussions conducted from 2007 to 2010, we found that women used a number of protective strategies, including accessing networks of support, capitalizing on their status (linked to rank, age, or prior deployment experience), and wearing non-feminine clothing to minimize violence exposure keeping themselves and others safe. Although the women describe strategies they perceive as reducing the immediate threat of sexual harassment and sexual assault, they do not directly challenge the social hierarchy of the military environment, rape myths, or sexualized images of military women. Through an in-depth analysis of the women’s experiences and perceptions, we provide insights on the importance of better understanding issues related to environment and safety among women in the military—a relatively understudied area. In light of the context-specific risk women face in the military, we believe that our work provides a foundation for future efforts designed to prevent the occurrence of sexual assault during military service.
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