Air Force pulls sexual assault prevention brochure

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

Air Force pulls sexual assault prevention brochure
By DONNA CASSATA
Associated Press
Published: Tuesday, July 9, 2013 at 2:17 p.m.
Last Modified: Tuesday, July 9, 2013 at 2:17 p.m.

The Air Force has pulled a brochure circulated at a South Carolina base after a lawmaker complained about some objectionable advice to sexual assault victims-such as submitting to an attack rather than resisting.

Rep. Louise Slaughter, D-N.Y., who had complained about the brochure in May, on Tuesday released a copy of a letter she received from the Pentagon informing her of the Air Force's decision and steps the services are taking to deal with the epidemic of sexual assault in the ranks, including reviewing its prevention material.

"We have reviewed the Shaw Air Force Base brochure you mentioned in your letter," Jessica Wright, acting undersecretary of defense, wrote to Slaughter. "We share your concerns over some of the materials presented, and the Air Force has withdrawn the brochure from circulation."

The letter was dated June 20, received by Slaughter's office during last week's congressional recess and released on Tuesday.


Read more: http://www.goupstate.com/article/20130709/APW/1307090803

[closeupready]

1. K&R

[Jefferson23]

2. WTF? ....such as submitting to an attack rather than resisting. I'd like very much to know

who wrote that. For crying out loud, incredible.

[Stargazer09]

4. That used to be what girls/women were taught to do

During my teenage years, that "be submissive, let him finish, then get away" mantra was hammered into us by the "experts," including the police. What was the first thing the police asked me when I was raped? "Did you fight back?" When I said no, I did what I was taught to do, the police told me that it wasn't really rape.

Yeah, I am still bitter about it, 30 years later.

[another_liberal]

5. On the other hand . . .

Rapists in uniform, on the other hand, thought the brochure's advice was just what women needed to be told.

[Stargazer09]

13. Remember,

The military is, more or less, a reflection of the general society.

The rape I discussed in my post happened in college, before I joined the military.

I do think that rape is happening more often in the military environment than we care to admit, and I can only hope that changes will be made. I have the feeling that this will be swept under the rug again once the press coverage dies down.

[another_liberal]

14. "No means no," would seem to be a pretty simple order to give.

Though, I guess one would have to follow that up with some consequences when the order is disobeyed?

[Stargazer09]

15. That's logical to us

But when have you ever known the military to take the sane, logical response to something as touchy-feely as rape?

[another_liberal]

16. "Power corrupts."

That has never been more true than in the military.

[Stargazer09]

17. I wouldn't go that far

Most members of the military have very little power. The civilian leadership (i.e. elected officials, up to and including the POTUS) tell the generals what they want done. Everyone else follows the chain of command all the way down. For the most part, it's a fairly efficient system, although we are still human beings who don't always follow orders.

I am quite certain that all military members have already been ordered (ad nauseum) to stop raping people.

I do want to acknowledge that the military seems to be making an effort, however clumsy, to address this issue. It isn't everything that I want to see, but its a step in the right direction, and that's better than nothing.

[Jefferson23]

8. You certainly do not need me to say how horrifically wrong that was, but I need to say it.

I am so sorry, ...it wasn't really rape..OMG.

Whoever put this together for the pamphlet should be banned from giving any future
input for the next version. Then they need to be educated, asap...it is sickening and inexcusable.

[Stargazer09]

9. Thank you

It would not have been so bad if they had simply acknowledged that I did what I was taught to do, particularly when faced with a muscular football player who outweighed me by 50 pounds.

Rest assured, my daughter is NOT being taught to react that way.

[bobclark86]

7. My take on the thought process:

OK, bear with me, here. Not condoning this AT MOTHERFUCKING ALL!!!!! but I believe the thought process went something like this:

1) It's going to happen. Why? Because we recruited a bunch of children, often times (not always, but often enough) the bully, the football jock or the kid with no social skills who doesn't know you're not supposed to rape people.

2)That rapist will probably be armed. A knife, a gun, a butter dish. Something. Why? It's the fucking military. We have guns, knives, butter dishes, $400 ashtrays, etc.

3) Above mentioned rapist is, well, rather animal in instinct. Like chasing when their "prey" runs. That means a girl that runs may trigger that instinct and end up murdered, not just raped (if there's ever been a time to use the phrase "just raped," it's when talking about a rape and murder. My apology to any rape victims who may have misunderstood that use of "just raped&quot .

4) Is it better to be raped and escape with your life, or be raped and murdered? We think be raped and live to be raped another day is superior to raped and dead. Fewer reports to file and such.

Again, I'm NOT CONDONING THIS SHIT. IT IS, AS I MENTIONED IN THE PREVIOUS SENTENCE, SHIT!

Like the guy who brains his wife after he finds her cheating on him, I understand where they are coming from. I understand where the Son of Sam came from (he was crazy and thought the neighbor's dog was speaking to him). Just for the record: Understanding =/= condoning/supporting/thinking it's cool or some shit like that (Just wanted to make that bit clear).

[Stargazer09]

11. That was what I was taught 30 years ago

Better to be "just raped" than raped, tortured, and murdered.

Fortunately, people are realizing that the majority of rapes aren't between strangers. With a stranger, you might actually be safer not trying to fight and run, since you don't know if they feed off fear or get a thrill from chasing their prey. With a coworker or a friend or a guy you're dating, not resisting just confirms (in their minds, at least) that you "wanted sex." Would certainly make it easier for the military leadership to claim it was all just a misunderstanding.

I can see that the author might not have known better. But if I was in a job that dealt with such a hot-button issue, I would be doing all sorts of research before I published anything. That's just me, though.

[bobclark86]

18. Glad I was on the right track...

I like to understand why people do things. Helps me not make their mistakes.

Just did some Googling and found this bit of information relavent to our discussion:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rape_statistics#United_States

Not-so fun fact of the day: 74 percent of the time, rape is committed by someone the victim knows. I don't know for certain, but I have a hunch that rate is higher in the military (you know, smaller community and all that jazz).

[msongs]

3. gee isn't the whole premise of the military welfare state to fight back when attacked lol nt

[Solly Mack]

6. K&R

[Ash_F]

10. I would expect soldiers to fight back.

And society should fight for victims who can't defend themselves.

[Lee-Lee]

12. Just sad that this advice is still given

The fact that this kind of mentality is still out there is one reason I teach courses on self defense for women.

Always resist a sexual assault. Always. By whatever means you have. Unless you have been slipped a drug that incapacitates you, you can do something. Clearly, loudly, and violently. Your assaulter is counting on you to submit, don't.

It is one thing if it is a robbery where you think you may defuse it by giving them a wallet or such, that must be an individuals judgement call, but advice to give in to a sexual assault is JUST PLAIN WRONG.

[Le Taz Hot]

19. OK, I'm going to speak up here.

Every rape is different. Every rapist is different. And every rape situation is different. There is no one-size-fits-all reaction to a rape. Yes, there are some situations that you should fight and scream and kick and bite and do everything that you can to prevent the attack. HOWEVER, your primary responsibility at all times is to STAY ALIVE. In some rape situations struggling only makes the rapist more violent. It can be even more dangerous when a deadly weapon is involved. I know this from experience and am here now because I kept my head and just kept thinking to myself, "You can survive the rape, you cannot survive a murder." Goddess forbid that any of you ever have to experience this but PLEASE always remember what I say here. You have to assess the situation and decide, literally in a moment's notice, what the best course of action is. I think the Navy's information was right on. They weren't saying, "Just lay back and think of England," they were trying to tell you what I'm telling you -- that is, to STAY ALIVE.