She joined the military--she was obviously asking for it!

[tzikeh]

The New York Times is running a series on women in the military. One article is devoted to harassment, molestation, and rape.

Obviously, trigger warnings apply both at the site and under the cut.



Here's one deep, sensitive comment:

This is the inevitable consequence of putting young men and women in their sexual primes, trained to be as agressive as possible, in close quarters under immense stress. When the military decided to allow women in forward combat areas, I and many others predicted this result. We in turn were decried as out-of-date throwbacks, but the military didn't want to "limit women's career opportunities," so here we are.

As the father of two military-age sons, you won't find me complaining about women in combat however, because their presence there makes one of my sons less likely to be a casualty - simply by dilution.

Get used to scenarios like this. War is not dinner at your grandma's; its whole purpose is the infliction of grisly, painful death. When the day's activities include the likelihood of getting your brains shot out, maybe a little slap and tickle - while not desirable - is not the end of the world.

Here's an all-purpose one:

Why are women serving on the front lines again? How does their presence help American war efforts? Seems to be more trouble than it's worth.

Then there's this beauty:

A society which hurls mothers, sisters and wives into the crucible of war is an immoral society, the alleged noblemindedness of that abstraction known as "equality," that trite Jacobin lie, notwithstanding!

And, one of my all-time-favorites:

Little girls playing soldier frightened by sex.

The definitions of 'sexual assault' and 'harassment' are so expanded and broadly defined it can mean anything.

It is an issue only possible because women are weak, finicky, fearful and unwilling to define relationships without ambiguity.

These, and many other thoughtful responses, can be found here.

Comments

[laurashapiro.livejournal.com]

OH GOD WHY DID I CLICK?!?

[tzikeh.livejournal.com]

This is something only you can answer.

[lamardeuse.livejournal.com]

A LITTLE SLAP AND TICKLE? *head explodes*

[tzikeh.livejournal.com]

Isn't that just *precious* and *quaint*?

[amireal.livejournal.com]

Yes, I admit it. It's all the women's fault for wanting to be equal and shit. WE MAKE THEM DO IT. BY EXISTING. If we really didn't want it we'd stay behind desks/in the kitchen where we belonged.

[tzikeh.livejournal.com]

I don't know why the men just don't take all the ova they can, kill us, and build more men. I guess they'd have to build more women too, take their ova, ad infinitum....

[misspamela.livejournal.com]

DON'T CLICK THE CUT DON'T CLICK THE CUT...fuck.

[kirbyfest.livejournal.com]

Oh, they can just all go fuck themselves. I am so, so tired of being told that women are raped and harassed simply because we exist, and we should get used to it and shut up about it.

When the day's activities include the likelihood of getting your brains shot out, maybe a little slap and tickle - while not desirable - is not the end of the world.

I am guessing this asshole doesn't have a wife, daughter or sister who's been raped. Or, more likely, he does and they just haven't told him because he's a GIANT FLAMING ASSHOLE.

[gypsyjr.livejournal.com]

I have no words.

Except for !#(W#GNNN#U$%T!!! >:| , which technically isn't one.

[misscam.livejournal.com]

It is an issue only possible because women are weak, finicky, fearful and unwilling to define relationships without ambiguity.

HOW DOES THAT EVEN MAKE SENSE.

[klia.livejournal.com]

*SCREAMS INSANELY*

Ironic how many male commenters condemned Capt. White for having an affair with a fellow officer, and probably would've high-fived Tiger Woods for being a man's man. Sickening.

[loz]

Wow. WOW. My mind, it is boggled.

[thebratqueen.livejournal.com]

In a world where there are people who don't see the problem with 2 out of the top 10 female atheletes this year are horses... I sit here with so little faith in humanity. So this too, yes.

Feminism? We sure as heck don't need that!

[amilyn.livejournal.com]

I hate humans.

[hubbit.livejournal.com]

When tzikeh alerted me to this via Twitter, I told her that I expected at least one response that argued "Well, you know, women should *expect* it because men are powerless over their dicks".

Surprise, look what I found: "Women are contributing to our war effort but they have to be fully aware of testosterone surplus of many of their male colleagues, some of them simply not capable to control themselves.".

To be honest, I've so far (page 3 of 12) found only one response that I thought was even halfway decent. It was simple, it was direct, and it asked what needs to be asked: "Don't be a stalker, don't be a rapist, control your behavior, and no means no. Why do many men have a hard time with this?"

I cannot phrase it better than that.

[ramblinsuze.livejournal.com]

*hed asploded with RAGE*

[cereta.livejournal.com]

Aaaaaand looking for Themyscira again.

Did I tell you that Frog's daycare was pulling the "{boy} hits her because he likes her" thing when she was one? THAT'S how young this crap starts.

[terrie01.livejournal.com]

Urge to kill rising...