CNN is turning a tad tabloidy these days, but today, they did do a feature on female soldiers enduring rape during deployment by (mostly) fellow American soldiers. It's a gut-wrenching piece and about darn time for it.
I'll say this - my foundation received 18 threatening, cruel emails from United States soldiers who all referred to me and others "lying bitch" (lying college girl, lying rich bitch, lying slut, lying whore - it really gets old) and claim to have been "falsely accused" of rape while on active duty, that their lives have been ruined by these women who imagined rape. Interesting how so many men can be falsely accused. They automatically connect anyone coming forward with a story of assault with a lying because the military incents violence not only toward the enemy, but towards women and they honestly believe rape to be their birthright. I am trying not to generalize, I'm just saying there was a disproportionate amount of very aggressive communication from men who served in our Armed Forces who demanded explanantions from me about my rape.
It's no coincidence that 4 female soldiers have been missing or murdered in recent months. Would someone who is a victim or someone who is a commanding officer care to comment? It's an anonymous forum here and you do understand I'll air your words?
2 comments:
liz,
do you believe that there's an undercurrent or culture of mysogyny in the military among many of the male troops?
mario
Sure I do - the military culture is a known harborer of violence against women - just look at the 4 missing/dead female soldiers of late. But I also believe that rape occurs against not only women in our military but boys, girls, women and men in the countries we fight in.
The bigger issue is that the military rewards violent behavior - that which makes one a "good" soldier can make one a horrific husband or father. That's just one of the side effects and has been for all time.
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