When taking a college composition class in the early 90's, I wrote an arugumentative paper on why women should not be allowed to serve in a combat situation. One of the reasons I used to support my topic was exactly this scenario.

However, I was lambasted by the female students in my class who thought that I was being chauvinistic. I was told that this could not happen if the proper controls were put into place.

It saddens me to know that I was not wrong. I still do not advocate women serving in an active combat theater.

I agree women shouldn't serve because things can get ugly just like this scenario. But I guess just shooting those attempting to rape you could be a solution. I would have a no nonsense approach. Try to take my ass and I'll kill your ass.

Hate to make a sexist statement.

But women shouldn't be in the defense services, it's been men for thousands of years.. and should still be. :]

As usual, the opinions usually go to the extremes, Woman provoke it by dressing like sluts, and All soldiers are rapists.

But in truth, any time men are around woman. Things will happen. Its called sexual desire. And while its PC that men\woman can act above their base desires, In reality most man and woman are still human. And have sexual desire.

As to the reason for rape, there is more then one "reason". Lust, power, curiosity, greed, envy, etc. The list can go on forever, and no matter how much the woman supposedly provokes it. Its still the perpetrators fault.

Personly, I think the military should stop teaching abstinence, and accept reality. That man\woman are sexual beings, and adapt a strategy to deal with these situations. Exp. "safe sex", sexual discrimination seminars, possibly sanctioned brothels, Church or group peer supports, etc.

Also to note, there is more "rape" in the military then Men on Woman. The cases of male to male, female to female, and even female on male is underreported as well.

And how do we do this?

Are we to totally do away with all the support staff as well?

Get rid of all the female nurses, female sectaries and all the other support staff positions that woman have held since 1776.

Fine, that might get rid of military female rapes on base, but then there is the famale rapes of civilians, and homosexual rapes to deal with as well. Should we simply remove the sexual organs, and when they still rape without the organs, then what?

There is no simple solutions to complex problems.

Originally posted by WishForWings
Hate to make a sexist statement.

But women shouldn't be in the defense services, it's been men for thousands of years.. and should still be. :]

Originally posted by calihan123
Of course women are going to get raped. These men are stuck over there for months, or years at a time with no contact with women.. if one comes in site, you better believe they are going to rape her.

Men don't rape women. Rapists rape women.

One is human. One is a monster.

I think women in the military should be trained to fight a rapist.
Or even carry a personal alarm in camp. Why no such measures have not been implemented?

do you think that the rise (or so i have been told, i am not in the US so don't know for a fact) in criminals who have been convicted and up for sentencing are being offered the option of joining up may have something to do with it ?.

For 8 years years, I was silent becaue I felt the impact of the degradation I'd been through because of Johnny B. Sloan. Time has passed. The hurt never goes away completely. But I am no longer silently living in shame. He was the shameful one, just like the men in Iraq who are raping those helpless women. Don't ever insinuate that they ask for anything, while they were just there trying to make a living and doing their jobs on behalf of our national defense.

Angel
Myrtle Beach, SC

Originally posted by whoswatchinwho
do you think that the rise (or so i have been told, i am not in the US so don't know for a fact) in criminals who have been convicted and up for sentencing are being offered the option of joining up may have something to do with it ?.

Whos- I don't think they offer that as an alternative anymore- maybe 20 years ago. Air Force will not take someone with a serious criminal record or anyone who has not completed their HS diploma or GED. Someone will correct me if this is wrong- I have been out of the military for a few years. I don't think you can take any of the armed forces as an alternative to jail. I knew a few retirees who entered the Armed Forces to get out of a jail sentence for misdemeanors but. like I said, they were retirees who went in over 20 years ago.


Oracle -I bet money has something to do with it. I was never taught anything except how to shoot a gun as personal defense. And you know why? Because I worked with money- they wanted to make sure I could defend the cash. I was posted as a guard at a building after 911 where I would take shifts at 3 am with no phone, no radio or weapon. I don't know what I was supposed to accomplish if the enemy showed up. No cops came around to check either.

Originally posted by TheOracle
I think women in the military should be trained to fight a rapist.

If they're front-line soldiers, you'd think that they'd already have the training to fight off a rapist.

Perhaps they feel, like some civilian women, that it's better to 'submit' and be a rape statistic rather than risk becoming a murder statistic.

Originally posted by calihan123
Of course women are going to get raped. .... Sex literally can control them (Men).

What utter nonsense. Makes e sck. You can be my first "ignore". There is no justification for such brutal mean criminal behaviour. Maybe all women should be in veils and not show themselves in public so as not to tempt those poor week men? This thinking is evil. Blame the victim. You sound like a Fundamentalist Shiite Moslem.

I have been in active service and, luckily, have never experienced any such acts. Notwithstanding this, I would not, under any circumstances, have tolerated any of the men under my command to get away with committing such a henious crime. Rape is one of the most serious acts that I can think of and should be punished accordingly.

A true professional solider should be physically and mentally fit in order to carry out his/her task. His/her task is to keep the peace, defend his/her country and above all PROTECT THOSE WHO CANNOT PROTECT THEMSELVES and not prey on them. A soldier is a servant of the state. He/she protects the values of his/her countrymen. Rapists or any other criminal have no place in the armed services. These poor unfortunate female soldiers are there to carry out the same duties and protect, not to be attacked by the very people who should be watching their six.

Sorry for ranting. I hate anyone who belilttles the good name of PROFESSIONAL soldiering.

For those that hold true the values of the services, both our American cousins and of the British Armed Forces, serving both at home and abroard, I salute you.

Be rest assured, some of us do value your sacrifices.