Another point constructed from those who oppose women’s introduction into the military is that coexistence will increase sexual harassment. Horowitz asserts that at West Point, a military academy, over 50 percent of females had stated that they were sexaully assaulted and harassed (par. 24). This shows that women are being raped and harassed within the military, but the question is why are these women being degraded? Some would like to say that men are attacking women in order to keep the females inferior and for men to maintain dominance. Horowitz delineates, “The problem of sexual harassment is unrelated to the different biologies and sexual drives of men and women. The real problem is an institutional framework that causes women to be perceived as inferior” (par. 14). In other words, giving women dominance or equality will decrease immoral sexual behavior. He also proceeds to add, “In the eyes of the gender feminists, if women were included in combat (and thus treated as the equals they are), if gender roles were abolished, then sexual harassment would cease to be a ‘major problem’” (Horowitz par. 14). Of course, feminists are on the right path by putting women in higher positions to show men how tough they are, which could lower the count of sexual harassment victims. Fields expresses that there is a bigger picture when combining men and women together in the military. She does not believe the harassment will and that makes her question as to why women would want to be a part of that (par. 1). Ultimately, she does not see that females will gain confidence or fight back. As soon as that happens, men will draw back and stop attacking women. The growth and decay of sexual harassment due to female’s involvement in the military will decrease if society would abolish the laws that keep women out of combat.
Women are trapped behind laws that allow them to fight equally. Commander Rosemary Mariner, a 19-year career naval officer who completely agrees with equality, presents a descriptive affidavit that explains the problem is not combining men and women together. She expresses the real problem is bigotry and how it is the cause of assault. She finally adds, “From common verbal abuse to the criminal acts of a Tailhook debacle, sexual harassment will continue to be a major problem in the armed forces because the combat exclusion law and policies make women institutionally inferior” (qtd. in Horowitz par. 13). She correctly claims that because of these laws harassment will continue. Horowitz then adds that whenever the policies and laws are altered, females’ pride will increase, men’s admiration for women will rise, and sexual harassment will to cease to exist (par. 15). This would mean that if these laws and policies are changed in favor of women, then men would not view women as inferior but as equals. In this case, females will not be targeted nor thought of as an object but as a human. If this were to continue, the destruction of sexual harassment would attract more men into these academies and more bonds would be created. According to Fields, institutions with women are afflicted with conflicting principles and sexual abuse, which is causing men to stay away from the academies (Fields par. 8). If sexual harassment were to vanish, there would likely be a male presence and more bonding. Ultimately, the only way to stop this inequality that keeps sexual harassment and women inferiority thriving is the laws and policies that should be revamped.
Women are trapped behind laws that allow them to fight equally. Commander Rosemary Mariner, a 19-year career naval officer who completely agrees with equality, presents a descriptive affidavit that explains the problem is not combining men and women together. She expresses the real problem is bigotry and how it is the cause of assault. She finally adds, “From common verbal abuse to the criminal acts of a Tailhook debacle, sexual harassment will continue to be a major problem in the armed forces because the combat exclusion law and policies make women institutionally inferior” (qtd. in Horowitz par. 13). She correctly claims that because of these laws harassment will continue. Horowitz then adds that whenever the policies and laws are altered, females’ pride will increase, men’s admiration for women will rise, and sexual harassment will to cease to exist (par. 15). This would mean that if these laws and policies are changed in favor of women, then men would not view women as inferior but as equals. In this case, females will not be targeted nor thought of as an object but as a human. If this were to continue, the destruction of sexual harassment would attract more men into these academies and more bonds would be created. According to Fields, institutions with women are afflicted with conflicting principles and sexual abuse, which is causing men to stay away from the academies (Fields par. 8). If sexual harassment were to vanish, there would likely be a male presence and more bonding. Ultimately, the only way to stop this inequality that keeps sexual harassment and women inferiority thriving is the laws and policies that should be revamped.