Cyprus-Forum.com

[Oracle]

i think where oracle is going with this one is, that the british army is a bit like a boys club. the same as the law society and the free masons. women just won't get a fair hearing if something like sexual assault or rape happens. drug taking at the colchester garrison was always on the news when we lived in the uk.

Rose ... that is an excellent point ....

[murf62]

These stats are for the US,not the British military, so don't lump us in with them. I'm sorry, I am not an expert on the US military, apart from the fact that I never wish to serve on the ground alongside them again. Those statistics however are a bit dubious to say the least!

25 % of women will be sexually assaulted on a college campus.

Really? Does anyone believe this?

12 % of women will be raped while in college.

This also seems ridiculously high. Would you go to college if you had a 1 in 9 chance of being raped? I know I wouldn't.

28-66 % of women in the military REPORT sexual assault *

Hmm 28-66%? That's like saying 1-100% of priests are rapists. It means nothing.

27 % of women are REPORTED raped in the military
BUT……

So you have more than a 1 in 4 chance of being raped if you are a female in the US military? Why don't they have more of a recruitment problem then?

If you look at the "About Us" section of the site you got these stats from, you will read why the stats may be inflated from a somewhat biased view. I know the female in question has been through a lot, but this is a classic example of how statistics can be twisted to say what you want them to. If you asked the US Military for their statistics on the same matter, do you think they would be the same?

[Oracle]

Oracle, do those sources have any information as to WHY this rape within the forces is so prolific? Is it the stress of their chosen career, the close proximity of the victims, or just that the armed forces do indeed attract rapists?

That is something to look into .. but we can all hazard guesses.

I don't think the forces necessarily attract rapists .. but maybe they do attract testosterone fueled younger men who perhaps have not developed the maturity to conduct themselves accordingly ...

Which would then invite the question ... should they be given guns?

[murf62]

i think where oracle is going with this one is, that the british army is a bit like a boys club. the same as the law society and the free masons. women just won't get a fair hearing if something like sexual assault or rape happens. drug taking at the colchester garrison was always on the news when we lived in the uk.

Rose ... that is an excellent point ....

This is simply not true. It may have been true long ago, but is certainly not anymore. Ask anyone who is currently serving and they will tell you the same.

[Oracle]

These stats are for the US,not the British military, so don't lump us in with them. ?

Don't take things so personally ... where did I do any lumping of you?

This is a general discussion about the type of people that choose a career in the army ..

Any people, any army!

That includes the women .. what kind of women choose the Army and why?

As for the statistics ... they are the tip of the iceberg of a problem which requires addressing ... Too often military minded people would rather sweep statistics like these under the canvas ...

Which is why they are hard to come by ... and must be taken seriously if they indicate a problem.

Why would the type of people entering the British Army be any different to the type of people entering the US Army murf62 ?

[purdey]

What a shame, a good topic has to go down such a sordid road. I will comment further when it get's back on track and maybe shows a little respect to serving and ex serving members of armed services worldwide.

[roseandchan]

murf, sorry but i can't agree with you. even in this day and age women still don't get a fair hearing regarding rape, and sexual assault . how many people don't bother to report rape? look at the increase in date rape. how often does the courts convict the rapist? even the uk courts know they are doing a bad job for the victims. the old boys club exists everywhere in the uk. its a mans world or so they think. why do women get overlooked for promotion at work? because they might get married and have kids, why would the employer spend money training them? equality i don't see it. the forces are no different.

[Oracle]

What a shame, a good topic has to go down such a sordid road. I will comment further when it get's back on track and maybe shows a little respect to serving and ex serving members of armed services worldwide.

purdey .... murf62 asked for data .. he is entitled to it .. what is the problem?

This opened as a general opinion gathering thread, and now someone wants to deal with an issue that has been presented. Fine! It's called development.

If you want to discuss honours .. please do so .. and redress the balance ..... but do not attempt to sabotage with only and just your views, when you have not presented anything substantial yourself yet! ..

I understand you may be uncomfortable with the material ..... but what is the alternative ... silence?

Now deal with the topic ... and offer opinions on that!

[Oracle]

murf, sorry but i can't agree with you. even in this day and age women still don't get a fair hearing regarding rape, and sexual assault . how many people don't bother to report rape? look at the increase in date rape. how often does the courts convict the rapist? even the uk courts know they are doing a bad job for the victims. the old boys club exists everywhere in the uk. its a mans world or so they think. why do women get overlooked for promotion at work? because they might get married and have kids, why would the employer spend money training them? equality i don't see it. the forces are no different.

The assumption is that the Military is just a mirror of society as whole .... Obviously the quality and conduct of the individuals will be a reflection on the Nation they represent.

murf62 has already made the assumption that what applies to US soldiers may not apply to British soldiers .. but he has not stated why yet.

Amnesty International have recently launched a campaign ....

http://www.geocities.com/mnsocialist/rape.html

[purdey]

Dressing down taken.
I cannot comment on US data, and I would be suprised if there are any serving or ex serving US milatary on forum. I have been on exercise in the past with US personnel but cannot comment on how their system works, and the problems they have.
I have never experienced any issues with rape whilst serving, and I had very little contact with female serving personnel. I am proud of my service, I am also proud of the men and women I served with aswell as serving members today. They, we do a very difficult job under difficult circumstances, complain rarely, and just get on with it.