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There has been a lot of hoopla lately regarding the "Don't ask, don't tell" policy of the U.S. Armed Forces. President Obama made a campaign promise to repeal (is that the right word?) the policy and is now getting much pressure to follow through on that promise.
What I find even more interesting than the prospect of gays and lesbians serving "openly" in the military (which, for the record, I have conflicting emotions on) is a study that came out about a month ago regarding the gender disparity shown in the "Don't ask, don't tell" policy.
For those of you not familiar with this policy, it states that gays and lesbians in the military cannot be investigated or punished as long as they keep their sexual orientation to themselves. In the 16 years this policy has been in effect, about 13,000 service members have been discharged under its provisions - on average, about 800 people each year. Really not a significant portion of the Armed Forces.
Back to the study. The study found that women are far more likely than men to be kicked out of the military under the "Don't ask, don't tell" policy. Women, who account for 15% of all active-duty and reserve members of the military, accounted for more than a third of the 619 people discharged last year because of their sexual orientation.
This disparity was even more evident in the Air Force where women represent 20% of personnel, but 61% of those discharged in 2008. This was the first time women in any branch of the military constituted a majority of those dismissed under "Don't ask, don't tell."
Critics of the policy say the disparity reflects deep-seated sexism in the Armed Forces, although one researcher believes the gap could also be a result of "lesbian-baiting" rumors and investigations that arise when women rebuff sexual overtures from male colleagues. Really?
I have quite a different idea of why this is happening, and it has nothing to do with the military being sexist. No ... in fact, I believe this is more likely a case of women manipulating the system to get what they want - out of the military.
See, there is a segment of new military recruits who discover the military isn't what they thought it would be. It's physically demanding. There are a lot offrivolous rules. It's dangerous. For some silly reason, there are people who don't take this into consideration until after they arrive in basic training.
Now, once you've made the commitment, it is difficult to get out of that commitment - really difficult. However, there are a few loopholes. As a female, you can get pregnant and make a lifetime commitment rather than a 2-5 year commitment, or you can "out" yourself as a lesbian.
Society - generally - has become a bit more accepting of lesbians. In fact, there are women who use the guise of bi-sexuality to lure in men (just being honest here). Kissing a girl isn't the "bad" thing that it once was.
My guess? This study does nothing more than point out the fact that women in the military now have another "out" - a way to leave the military without a dishonorable discharge on their record. And then they can go back to their heterosexual lifestyle outside of the military.
Unfortunately, I think this scenario is far more likely that the sexism claims some are making. This isn't a case of the "good ol' boys" picking on women. No, this is more likely a short-term lifestyle change being used as a ploy to get out of a long-term commitment. It's a disservice to the military and a disservice to gays and lesbians who struggle to serve their country in secret.
There has been a lot of hoopla lately regarding the "Don't ask, don't tell" policy of the U.S. Armed Forces. President Obama made a campaign promise to repeal (is that the right word?) the policy and is now getting much pressure to follow through on that promise.What I find even more interesting than the prospect of gays and lesbians serving "openly" in the military (which, for the record, I have conflicting emotions on) is a study that came out about a month ago regarding the gender disparity shown in the "Don't ask, don't tell" policy.
For those of you not familiar with this policy, it states that gays and lesbians in the military cannot be investigated or punished as long as they keep their sexual orientation to themselves. In the 16 years this policy has been in effect, about 13,000 service members have been discharged under its provisions - on average, about 800 people each year. Really not a significant portion of the Armed Forces.
Back to the study. The study found that women are far more likely than men to be kicked out of the military under the "Don't ask, don't tell" policy. Women, who account for 15% of all active-duty and reserve members of the military, accounted for more than a third of the 619 people discharged last year because of their sexual orientation.
This disparity was even more evident in the Air Force where women represent 20% of personnel, but 61% of those discharged in 2008. This was the first time women in any branch of the military constituted a majority of those dismissed under "Don't ask, don't tell."
Critics of the policy say the disparity reflects deep-seated sexism in the Armed Forces, although one researcher believes the gap could also be a result of "lesbian-baiting" rumors and investigations that arise when women rebuff sexual overtures from male colleagues. Really?
I have quite a different idea of why this is happening, and it has nothing to do with the military being sexist. No ... in fact, I believe this is more likely a case of women manipulating the system to get what they want - out of the military.
See, there is a segment of new military recruits who discover the military isn't what they thought it would be. It's physically demanding. There are a lot of
Now, once you've made the commitment, it is difficult to get out of that commitment - really difficult. However, there are a few loopholes. As a female, you can get pregnant and make a lifetime commitment rather than a 2-5 year commitment, or you can "out" yourself as a lesbian.
Society - generally - has become a bit more accepting of lesbians. In fact, there are women who use the guise of bi-sexuality to lure in men (just being honest here). Kissing a girl isn't the "bad" thing that it once was.
My guess? This study does nothing more than point out the fact that women in the military now have another "out" - a way to leave the military without a dishonorable discharge on their record. And then they can go back to their heterosexual lifestyle outside of the military.
Unfortunately, I think this scenario is far more likely that the sexism claims some are making. This isn't a case of the "good ol' boys" picking on women. No, this is more likely a short-term lifestyle change being used as a ploy to get out of a long-term commitment. It's a disservice to the military and a disservice to gays and lesbians who struggle to serve their country in secret.
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21 comments:
That is very interesting perspective. I value your take on this issue since you served your country and would have insights that most of us don't.
In theory, the idea of "Don't ask, don't tell" is good. Heck, there are many, many things we are forced to hide from employers no matter where we work. In the real world, I am sure it is much less cut and dry.
Your perspective is an interesting one and I have no clue how valid it may be.
I for one think "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" is an archaic rule that reinforces a long standing discrimination against gays and lesbians. While there is a lot that employees must hide from employers sexual orientation is not typically one of them. I have never understood how homosexual relationships are thought to weaken the "might" of the military any more than heterosexual relationships. This law strips down the beauty that any relationship can be and focuses on the sexual aspect. Why should any adult in a loving and committed relationship have to hide this from anyone. President Obama should repeal this law immediately.
If a man had written this post he would get crushed. The feminists would be at his door with torches and pitchforks.
Studies have also continuously shown that women are far more likely to be prosecuted and kicked out of the military for fraternization and adultery. Are those the women who are looking for an out who can't bring themselves to "go gay?"
As for DADT, I think it's stupid. It's the federal government telling someone to stay in the closet so the bigots and homophobes won't be offended. If gays can serve openly in the British and Israeli military without hurting their effectiveness or morale, then I see no reason why they can't in the US.
Interesting perspective on this.
I don't have much to add but you are hearing more and more 'things' people are doing to get out of the military. Which is a bit disheartening. You would hope people would thoroughly think through their decision to join. And if it's not what you hoped it would be, suck it up. Choices, obligations and commitments were made, now you live with them. Isn't that what life is about?
When I first started reading your post, this was not the direction I thought it was going to go.
While I disagree I respect your opinion.
I don't see a problem with openly gay or lesbians being in the military, just like I don't have a problem with them mingling in the general public.
If they do their job, then what is the problem? Same applies with every single person in the miliary. If they do their job, who cares?
Karen, I am not surprised that I am getting quite a few responses to the DADT aspect of this post - most who will disagree with us both. Guess I'll need to get that post rolled out tomorrow!
Anonymous, I'll post more on my conflicting opinion regarding DADT tomorrow. Unfortunately, this post has turned into a DADT debate - not surprising, but I had hoped to hold off on that argument for another post :)
Jay, yes they would Jay, and I'll be a little surprised if I don't get some of that too! I've not seen the studies you are referring to but I'll do a bit of digging on that one. My experience has been that the fraternization issue is more biased towards rank than gender.
I'll comment on the DADT issue tomorrow. This should be fun!
Vixen, and I realize that my perspective on this is not very flattering to women in the military - and certainly the desire to get out of a military obligation is not something that only women experience - I'm just saying that the stigma associated with conveniently "coming out" while in the military is far less for women than it is for men.
Kim, but it didn't go that direction! I wasn't supporting DADT, I was addressing issues associated with this particular study - offering up that it might not be that the military prosecutes women more than men under DADT, but something else that is going on.
13,000 people discharged under DADT, people who were trained at an average cost of $35,000 per person. So $400 million+ spent on training was in effect thrown away. Seems like something significant to me.
An individual simply 'outing' themself as homosexual is not enough to get discharged under DADT. What is does is trigger an investigation, and if there is enough evidence to support the individual's claim, then the discharge process *might* start.
Jay makes an excellent point- a man would get crushed for accusing women of using DADT to get out of their service obligation.
That is an interesting take on the percentages of females leaving the military using the DADT stipulation.
This to me is a loop hole that should eb closed. If you make the commitment, you should finish the commitment.
This is that "oh my I made a mistake - DO OVER" mentality that I dispise so much.
No DO-OVERS when you make a commitment to the military
Oh yeah, forgot...
I wish they would just get rid of DADT and allow all men and women, regardless of sexual orientation to serve in our military.
Dana - let me rephrase:
While I disagree with your opinion on the study, I still respect it.
While I don't think this is the "good ole boys" picking on the woman, I also am not so sure people not realizing what the military was all about would be that intelligent(? probably not the right word) to use a military policy to get out.
The rest was just my opinion about DADT policy.
Get rid of the policy, get rid of the idiots who didn't realize the military was really really hard and dangerous.
I angers me, just ever so slightly, that people even have the nerve to whine about how difficult the military is. When you and I were serving, there was no waving of a stress card when you were being yelled at. For me, it just goes to show that so many in our society are becoming bigger whimps, or maybe they are spoiled.
I don't know Dana. I say if they are that unhappy and can't deal with it, let them out. Who wants to hear someone whine next to them, whether your doing PT, marching, and especially in battle.
Hubman, not statistically significant in the grand scheme of things. You know as well as I do that the percentages of people who leave the military for other reasons (bar to reenlistment, medical, etc.) are far greater than this segment.
A man *would* get crushed, and I know that more than a few women will take issue with my position on this, but I am expressing my opinion based on my personal experience. I was active duty for the first two years DADT went into effect. I saw more than a handful of female enlisted get discharged under the policy and not a single one of them were lesbian. I am open to the idea that policy enforcement may have changed over the last decade and a half, but when it first went into effect, no one was even bothering with an "investigation"
My unit in Korea? Small unit - 27 females - FOUR of them left the military after becoming pregnant in Korea. I never saw a 15% pregnancy rate in any of my CONUS duty stations. Just sayin'
Bond, well, Hubman's perception of this is different than mine, so maybe I'm way out of line and basing my opinion only on very limited experience.
Quite frankly, it's one argument for eliminating DADT!
Kim, I'm curious, what are you basing your opinion of the study findings on? Do you believe this really is an issue of sexist policies in the military? You'd be surprised at how well our Armed Forces know the policies and regulations when they benefit them personally. Kind of like making the assumption that people who make a "lifestyle" of living off the government aren't "intelligent" enough to figure out the system. Trust me - people are smarter than we give them credit for :)
Bina, I understand your position on this, but have difficulty with thinking it's a good idea. There are many reasons people glamorize the military and just as many reasons that people enlist. I say make it even more difficult to get out of your obligation and people might think more seriously about making the commitment.
I think you bring up a very interesting points. If I remember during the first Gulf War pregnancies went way up and the pregnant ladies went home, instead of staying in the war zone. But I am not going to judge these ladies as I am sure they were doing the same thing guys do before the shooting starts.
I don't have a problem with Gays serving in the Military. Gays have been serving in the Military as long as straight folks have. It seems a shame to send a good person home because they are gay. The bottom line should be this: Does the person taking the oath to serve their country have honorable intentions? If the answer is yes, then God bless them and let them serve honorably.
I have a good friend who I communicate with occassionally through FB who served with aboard the US Pelelui. He edured a lot of ridicule from peers and the command regarding his orientation. I personally stood up for him on a few occassions when crew members would tease him. He is a very nice person to know and someone I call one of my closes friends. I respect him for holding his stance and not caving in to pressure. BTW, this was before long DADT was in effect. I posted a blog on my site in his honor a while back with one of his poems. You are right, some hetros use that as a way out when they can't hack the stress of being in the military. It's a pitiful excuse if you ask me. I can see why the military wants to sweep this undera rug. It is also sad that there is disparity in the number of women who are excused from service because of their lifestyle choices. Not to far back in the relative past, African-Americans suffered the same disparity in getting promotions and in being drummed out of the service. Yes, the good ol boy network is nothing new.
I know a number of lesbians who are in the military.
I'd be more interested in the number of claims made, investigated and rejected. THAT to me would be an interested statistic. And, is missing as it would give me a better idea of the claims versus those actual discharged.
Is the DADT abused, I don't know. Really hard to say with the stats presented. I guess I would have to look at the root cause of the problem. Is it DADT being used as a loophole? Is it the sexism in the military? Is it something else? I'm more of a person who asks why a few more times before drawing conclusions as to what is happening. I personally don't believe that has been done. Until it is, everything is speculation and guessing.
But that's just my opinion. :)
~Emmy
There have always been gays in the military so who cares? If they do their job then they should be able to serve. I don't understand why the debate has to be any longer than that.
I think gays and lesbians should be able to be "out" and able to serve in the military. What's the difference if Perez Hilton or Joe Stiffneck is at the front line? These are Americans willing to risk their lives for the rest of us.
However, if they are just using the "I'm gay or lesbian" excuse just to get out of the military then I think they should be shit out of luck. One should know what they are getting into before signing that form.
That's my take.
So I work for the military now. Dana predicted I would be talking in acronyms by now. She was right. However, the point I picked up on is one that I can say is really happened. There is a different "type" of person signing up to be a soldier these days. There are quite a few who sign up for one thing without an understanding of all the OTHER things that come with it. There really are those individuals serving our country who want a way out. You name it, DADT is just one way for any soldier to begin an investigation that can lead to HE or SHE continuing or not continuing in his or her military career. As an orthopedic provider, I have to often sort out the real injury and the reason for a not so real injury. Individuals put into a strict environment, in war time situations find out it's not what they thought it would be (not that one would know anyway) and there are those respectfully so just NOT cut out to be a soldier. Some recognize this but are too proud or too scared to simply say that. They would rather say "I'm gay", "My leg isn't better", "I have nightmares" then admit they can't do the job they thought they could do. There is a lot of misconceptions to be faced. DADT and it's resulting "out of the military" isn't just a homosexual topic.
They say Don't Ask, Don't Tell but then they are in every aspect of your life. If you live with your partner, they know it. If you have joint bank accounts, they know. They know all. They didn't ask, you didn't tell but all of a sudden you are OUT! Out of the military and OUTTED to your pears. Anyone see the episode of The L Word where they all but ransaked Alice and Tasha's apartment to prove she was gay?
I am sure there are people who fake gay, pregnant and crazy to get out but there are plenty who just want to serve their country without it's judgement of their choice of bedroom partner.
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