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I have so many thoughts about the Fort Hood report. Most that are too long for Twitter. But one thing that really stood out to me was the subtle reference to the gender integration of combat positions, even from this “independent” body. 1/
This mindset is why the Army has this perpetual problem. Listen, sexual assault is not a problem at Ft. Hood (or the military in general) because we opened combat positions to women. It was a problem before then. 2/
The presence of women does not cause sexual assault. Those who choose to commit the acts do. The sexist and gender biased structure that we have in the Army (and society in general) perpetuates the problem. 3/
Far too often, women are seen as lesser and are required to work twice as hard to earn even close to the same level of respect of their male counterparts. 4/
Until the Army starts viewing women as true members of the team who bring value to the table, the problem will never go away. (And I’ll put the obligatory “not all men” here so as to ward off the inevitable reply) 5/
Yes, certain leaders can say the “right things,” but words are cheap. The Army’s actions have shown women how “valuable” we are to the Army. And it has shown the whole formation. The result is clear. 6/
The Army literally created a biased physical fitness test (one that most women have to train for at least twice as hard as their male counterparts), called it “gender neutral,” and then patronizingly tied the requirement to the enemy in combat not caring about gender. 7/
Like we haven’t been fighting 2 wars for the past 19 years and sending women into harms way the whole time without a “gender neutral” physical fitness test. 8/
Stop viewing women as people you have to tolerate, learn how to act around, and problems to deal with. Start viewing us as actual values members of the team. Once you do, we may actually start to get somewhere on moving the needle in our problem with sexual assault. 9/9
So, apparently this resonated.
I have nothing to promote except being better human beings.
It’s past time for all leaders to step up. I know countless leaders who will do the right thing and will not sweep this under the rug. I am one of them. Are you? Be one of them.
I have nothing to promote except being better human beings.
It’s past time for all leaders to step up. I know countless leaders who will do the right thing and will not sweep this under the rug. I am one of them. Are you? Be one of them.
