Inform learners they will write a two-page (maximum) essay addressing actual SHARP issues from your
Title: “Why does the number of sexual assaults continue to increase throughout your unit/organization/Army?” (Choose one)
I. Introduction (1-2 paragraphs)
A. Opening statement
B. Background information
C. Purpose statement
II. Body (2-4 paragraphs)
A. (Point A) Why does sexual assault occur? Include supporting evidence.
B. (Point B) Does our current approach to training reduce (or not reduce) the risk of sexual assault and harassment? (Could be tied to point A)
C. (Point C) Supporting topic & evidence to support your thesis.
D. (Point D) How do we end sexual violence in the military?
III. Conclusion (1-2 paragraphs)
A. Summarize the main points.
B. Make a strong, memorable final statement.
NOTES:
• Essay must be 1-2 pages in length (title page does not count as a page).
• Essay is an individual activity (although peer editing is allowed).
• Essay must contain two references (ARs, personal interviews, peer review articles, etc.).
• Essay is due on Day 1 of the Leadership Phase (provide students with exact date and time).
• Commandant (or designated representative) will choose the best essay.
Include two references. Must be from .gov, .mil, .ed etc….
ANSWER
Sexual assault, harassment or any form of sexual misconduct at the workplace takes a personal toll on not only women but any victim at unprecedented levels. Worldwide studies estimate that such kinds of assaults in an organisation can be traced up to eight women in every ten (Quick 2017). This goes to show how widespread this phenomenon is in our time and age. Amongst the effects of this on women victims include a range of negative consequences including adverse effects on mental health, interruptions on careers, a decline in income and other personal problems. Another effect that has been discovered quite recently is that women fear high positions or advancements in their careers contributing to the already persistent wage gap among other forms of discrimination. This research paper tries to establish the reason sexual assault cases continue to increase in the organisation.
Sexual assault occurs purely as a result of the perpetrators of the action, who are driven by a sense of entitlement and lack of respect. Similarly, the stereotypical idea that women are passive while men are aggressive contributes highly to the idea that pressuring a woman for sex is acceptable and just ordinary behaviour which is often not the case. Thirdly, sexual assault also occurs through contributing factors such as alcohol or any other drugs which are active in being inhibitions and promoting cloud judgement. Researchers indicate that “perpetrators are more likely to commit sexual assault when they are under the influence of alcohol or another substance” (Quick 2017). Lastly, sexual assault because society tends to lean on the notion that assault occurs because of a certain aspect of the victim such as a woman’s dressing. Such is wrong and a means of unfair judgment that focuses on dressing, lifestyle, physical appearance or sexual orientation and a strong factor in sexual assault cases.
According to the New York Times, “traditional methods of training can backfire, but ideas like teaching bystanders to intervene and promoting more women have proved effective” (The New York Times). Old methods at the workplace like corporate pieces of training in conference halls using spreadsheets and forcing attendance on everyone to barely move the statistics with regards to sexual assault. From the statistics website, Rainn.org, sexual assault cases have been declined since 1993 but have been on the rise in the last few years. Statistics indicate that in America, every 73 seconds means sexual assault has happened at least once (Rainn.org).
In the military, there are about 18900 of sexual assault cases every year (Rainn.org). One way to reduce sexual assault in the military is the introduction and promotion of a culture of safely reporting sexual assault cases. A system that receives such cases with respect and fairness and not prejudice and neglect.
In conclusion, it is clear that while we as a human society have made huge strides towards the elimination of sexual assault in the organisation and the military, more remains to be done. Sexual assault in few recent years has been on the rise globally proving that our methods of training are not effective. In the military, sexual assault remains a problem because victims cannot report such cases freely without judgement and responsibility is rarely carried through to those responsible. The truth of the matter is that sexual assault on women will remain prevalent in the country and the world as far as processes meant to eliminate them does not seek to eliminate the idea women are prey and men predators.
References
Quick, J. C., & McFadyen, M. (2017). Sexual harassment: Have we made any progress? Journal of occupational health psychology, 22(3), 286.
RAINN.org. Scope of the Problem: Statistics. Sexual Violence has Fallen by More than Half Since 1993. Retrieved on 10th July 2020 from https://www.rainn.org/statistics/scope-problem
The New York Times. Sexual Harassment Training Doesn’t Work. But Some Things Do. Retrieved on 10th July 2020 from https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/11/upshot/sexual-harassment-workplace-prevention-effective.html
