Gotta keep ’em separated

Tuesday, January 7, 1997

SEGREGATION:

Gender integration in the military inhibits productivityIt is
rarely denied that a natural attraction exists between men and
women ­ except by the United States military.

In 1973, the government attempted to defy human nature by
abolishing separate branches for the sexes. The result was rape,
sexual harassment and a compromise in the overall effectiveness of
the armed forces. Although scandals like Tailhook have plagued the
last two decades, the scars of integration have recently been made
apparent at the Army Ordinance Center in Aberdeen, Maryland. The
events occurring there and at other bases throughout the country
have indicated that the military could benefit from mandatory
separation of the ranks.

There is little doubt that women are qualified to assume active
roles, but it is more beneficial if they perform their duties in a
separate but equal context. The simple truth is that human nature
makes it difficult for both sexes to work in the close association
that military life requires.

The sublimation of sexual urges has proved difficult for
personnel when confined with members of the opposite sex. According
to the New York Times, when 272 Gulf War veterans were asked about
their sexual activity during their stay in Saudi Arabia,
three-quarters of the female and over half of the male respondents
stated that they had engaged in "at least as much or more" sex than
at home. This was confirmed when a repair ship returned to America
from the Gulf War with 36 of the women aboard pregnant. Such
incidents illustrate that despite the qualifications of females,
the cooperation of both genders in military maneuvers may be
self-defeating.

Gender integration also changes the dynamics of training and
promotion in the military. Because the tasks performed in the
military are more intense and sensitive in their nature, sexual
harassment can be an extremely potent weapon. In the last few
weeks, several young women in the army who claim to have been
sexually harassed have stated that they believed they were putting
not only their career status, but their own safety in jeopardy if
they rejected the advances of a commanding officer. If soldiers
were supervised by members of the same gender, sexual harassment
would not be an issue. In addition, many commanding officers have
expressed concern that the value of basic training may be
undermined by the presence of both genders. Some male recruits
appear reluctant to use full force against females when practicing
combat skills, thereby reducing the benefit of their practice.

Commanders are also distracted from their goal of preparing
soldiers for war when they must make time to deal with claims of
sexual harassment and the problems and relationships that are
attached to consensual sex among personnel. A number of regulations
have been imposed upon such relationships, but commanding officers
are finding that it is exceedingly difficult to regulate
sexuality.

It is time for the U.S. Government to accept the fact that men
and women are different and that it is natural for them to be
attracted to one another. In most professions this would not matter
greatly. However, in a military context, this attraction may
inhibit both sexes from realizing their full potential.

In order to prevent this occurrence, the armed forces should
separate itself according to gender. This is the only way to
encourage men and women alike to be all that they can be.

Jennifer Nelson