Service-Women’s Responses to Sexual Harassment: The Importance of Identity Work and Masculinity in a Gendered Organization

Abstract

Using data from in-depth interviews with 38 U.S. service-women, this article explores women’s responses to sexual harassment in the military workplace. I argue that in an extremely gendered and masculine institution, sexual harassment threatens service-women’s identities as military insiders, presenting an identity dilemma for them. To resolve this dilemma, women prioritize their masculinity and downplay and excuse harassment. In contrast, service-women who have experienced sexual assault or combat confront sexual harassment. I argue that this is possible because for these two groups of women, sexual harassment does not present an identity dilemma. I show how masculinity is used to downplay and normalize harassment as well as to resist it.

An intersectional approach to military sexual violence

“…Additionally, abusers and harassers use sexism, racism, classism, homophobia, anti-immigrant rhetoric, and immigration threats in abuse episodes (Adams & Campbell, 2012;Bograd, 1999;Bonnes, 2020;Hass et al, 2000;Moradi, 2009;Potter & Thomas, 2012;Raj & Silverman, 2002;Villalón, 2010). In the military context, Bonnes (2020) noted how Black and Latina service women reported that men invoked racialized stereotypes when harassing them.…”

“…A Latina soldier described being called a "fiery little mama" and Black women stated that their "attitudes" were cited as problematic in annual reports when they reacted to sexual harassment. Bonnes (2020) notes that the image of the "angry Black woman" or the "hot-headed Latina" (Lugo-Lugo, 2012) compounds these women's sexualization and often constrains how they can respond to harassment. Further, LGBT service members have reported harassment and insults in the workplace based on their sexuality (Allsep, 2013;Banner, 2012;Gurung et al, 2018;Pelts et al, 2015).…”

“…Examining how conceptions of military masculinity unfold in interaction can also reveal differences in how service members respond to sexual abuse. Warrior masculinity has been shown to shape and constrain service women's responses to sexual abuse, where women might downplay sexual harassment to present a warrior identity (Bonnes, 2020). However, Bonnes (2020) argues that women's experiences with combat provide them a warrior identity, giving them more freedom to claim victimization without fearing further stigma.…”

“…Warrior masculinity has been shown to shape and constrain service women's responses to sexual abuse, where women might downplay sexual harassment to present a warrior identity (Bonnes, 2020). However, Bonnes (2020) argues that women's experiences with combat provide them a warrior identity, giving them more freedom to claim victimization without fearing further stigma. This demonstrates that warrior masculinity does not affect all victims of sexual violence in a similar manner.…”

“…Research has also explored the relationship between deployment and combat exposure and sexual abuse likelihood (Barth et al, 2015;Black & Merrick, 2013;LeardMann et al, 2013) and experiences (Bonnes, 2020). Barth et al (2015) found that women with combat exposure were 42% more likely to report experiencing military sexual trauma compared to women without combat exposure and that men with combat exposure were about three times more likely to report sexual assault compared to men who did not have combat exposure.…”