IT CAN HAPPEN TO ANY ONE...

Unknown Male Soldier Photo Credit: Rodnae Productions

Unknown Male Soldier

Photo Credit: Rodnae Productions

 

Esprit de Corps Magazine February 2022 // Volume 29 Issue 1

Let's Talk About Women in the Military – Column 35

 

By Military Woman

Question:

What do we know about male-on-male military sexual assaults?

Answer:

In short – not enough. However, we do know that over 40% of the 19,000+ CAF-DND sexual misconduct class action claims were submitted by men, despite male sexual assaults being one of the most underreported and understudied of all crimes.

Although Canadian research has started to look at the unique aspects of military sexual assault in men, little information is presently publicly available. Let’s therefore consider the findings of a recent publication that reviewed 171 cases of male military penetrative sexual assault in the US Army (Cunningham, 2021). 

Who were the perpetrators? Although female-on-male sexual assault can and does occur, over 95% of perpetrators were male. Male perpetrators were often trusted friends or acquaintances from the same unit, slightly older in age and higher in rank than their victims. The two most common trades in the US Army for sexual assault perpetrators (and victims) were combat arms (41%) and medical (13%).

What motivated the perpetrators? Motivations were diverse. Many heterosexual perpetrators wanted non-sexual dominance and control over their victims. While many non-heterosexual perpetrators were motivated by sexual gratification and/or a desire for intimacy.

Normal behavioural inhibitions against assaulting others (such as concern about punitive or social consequences for actions, and/or personal value sets) were most likely to be overwhelmed when a situational opportunity to assault occurred concurrent to the perpetrator’s use of alcohol, drugs, and/or pornography. 

How did they do it? Dominance and control motivated assaults often were related to bullying and hazing activities.  Sexual gratification and desires for intimacy related assaults commonly occurred with the perpetrator inviting the victim to watch movies or play video games alone together while away from normal home settings. Alcohol or other drugs were often provided to the victim with the assault occurring after the victim had fallen asleep or passed out.  

How were victims selected?  Victims were often under 24, new to the military and/or the unit.  The individual (and the unit) had often been “tested” earlier by the perpetrator to ensure the pre-existence of a passive permissive reaction to inappropriate sexual comments and behaviours, often homophobic in nature.

Why did victims not report?  The Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) Faces of Freedom website. Reporting was less likely if a unit placed preferential importance omits performers; unit cohesion and allegiance; individual resilience and self-reliance and/or conflict resolution at the lowest level possible. Also, with over 75% of the victims being alcohol related incapacitated or asleep for some/ most of their assault many lacked confidence in the justice system to take their report seriously. 

Prevention Recommendations.

  1. More research. More Canadian specific research is required to know how to best support the unique needs of male military sexual assault victims and how to best prevent and rehabilitate male military sexual perpetrators.

  2. More education. Male-on-male military sexual assaults should never be laughed off or treated as a joke. All sexual assaults should be acknowledged and treated as the serious crimes they are.
    Knowing that male military sexual perpetrators preferentially seek out units that reward group cohesion and allegiance, male toughness and normalize violent, dominant and/or hypermasculine behaviours – enhanced vigilance may be required in these types of units. 
    All individuals should be aware that assaults are more common when isolated or away from home, alone with one other person especially if using alcohol, drugs, and/or pornography.

  3. Culture Change. Perpetrators repeatedly described their sexual assaults as escalations in behaviour that started with workplace tolerance to their sexually inappropriate talk and actions. This knowledge suggests that everyone in the defence community can play an active role in the prevention of future military sexual assaults by helping to model and enforce a non-sexualized respectful workplace for one and all.

     

If you or anyone you know, serving or veteran, has been impacted by military sexual misconduct you can receive information and/or support from the Sexual Misconduct Response Centre (SMRC) 1-844-750-1648

Update:

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