Friday, June 14, 2013 11:01:16 PM
Army email scandal: Expert says sexism is deeply ingrained in Defence Force
By Simon Lauder, staff - Updated Fri Jun 14, 2013 6:56am AEST
Video: Army admits new sexual controversy (7.30)
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-06-13/worse-than-skype-scandal---army-admits-new-sexual/4752862
.. embedded ..
Related Story: Defence Force rocked by explicit email scandal
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-06-13/lieutenant-general-david-morrison/4751800
Map: Australia - http://maps.google.com/?q=-26.000,134.500(Australia)&z=5
The latest Defence scandal has prompted calls for a zero-tolerance approach to
misconduct, with experts suggesting that ingrained sexism in the Army may be worse than first thought.
The Chief of the Army, Lieutenant General David Morrison, yesterday revealed three personnel had been stood down over a series of explicit and offensive emails .. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-06-13/lieutenant-general-david-morrison/4751800 .. that degrade women.
A further five personnel are facing suspension and nine others are being investigated, with around 90 more people implicated in the emails.
On Thursday night Lt Gen Morrison told 7.30 he has been in contact with several of the women targeted by the emails to apologise.
-------
Key points:
* Three senior Army personnel suspended, five facing suspension and nine under investigation.
* 90 people implicated over the emails, which contained explicit and offensive images and text.
* Women at the centre of the emails are angry and concerned.
* Email scandal said to be worse than the Skype incident due to the seniority of the staff involved.
* Incidents occurred during the investigation of sexism and sexual abuse within Defence Force.
-------
"There are victims of this group's alleged behaviour who have been denigrated in different ways," he said.
"Some through texts, some through distortion of imagery, some through the distribution of material without consent."
Defence Minister Stephen Smith says the Army should take a zero-tolerance approach to the misconduct.
Australia's Sex Discrimination Commissioner, Elizabeth Broderick, made a similar recommendation when she investigated the culture of sexism in the Defence Force less than a year ago.
The email scandal involves a Lieutenant Colonel, majors, warrant officers, sergeants and corporals.
Ms Broderick says she is appalled at the range of people implicated.
"That's what's so abhorrent about it and it also shows the complexity of the issues that have to be solved," she said.
Video: Elizabeth Broderick discusses 'systemic cultural issue' in Defence Force (ABC News)
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-06-13/elizabeth-broderick-discusses-systemic-cultural/4752178 .. embedded ..
"Because this is just not a particular rank who are all coming together, it's across from senior officers - Lieutenant Colonel - right through to general enlistment."
Culture of sexually objectifying women
Dr Ben Wadham spent five years in the Australian Defence Force and is now a sociologist at Flinders University.
Dr Wadham, a former infantryman, says the use of images to denigrate women is a long-standing tradition in the Australian Defence Forces, but he says the involvement of senior personnel shows the problem may be much worse than previously thought.
"My own experience of being involved in Facebook groups, watching soldiers engage in this sort of behaviour... younger soldiers and... soldiers of different ranks, and the kinds of imagery - the kinds of words and meanings and names and things which come out - are often quite extreme," he said.
"This is a case of quite senior officers over a long period of time and we've just got to ask the question, when will military culture get this right?"
Dr Wadham says the senior ranks of those involved shows that sexism is not confined to young members of the Defence Force.
"I think it also highlights many of the excuses that the Australian Defence Force has used over the past don't hold water," he said.
Video: Chief of Army addresses latest sexual scandal (7.30)
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-06-13/chief-of-army-addresses-latest-sexual-scandal/4752866 .. embedded..
"In the past, we've blamed it on young men. We've said that this is the sort of behaviour we see in broader society, even in universities. Well, here's an example of a very entrenched culture, a predatory culture amongst a group of men sexually objectifying women."
Lt Gen Morrison was at a loss when he was asked to explain why the poor behaviour persists in the Defence Force.
"I don't have one. I can't be more honest with you than that. I can't put a theory on it. I certainly can't find an easy switch to flick to turn it off," he said.
"I suspect that it's rooted in part in human nature, but that's no excuse either. It's on me. I'm responsible for this, I'm the Chief of the Australian Army.
"This is a setback, but I'm going to pick myself up, use it in conversations with the workforce of Army, reflect on where things have gone wrong and try and put them right."
'Backwards step' for women in defence
The email scandal comes as the Defence Force tries to recover from the 2011 Skype incident, in which a female ADFA cadet was unknowingly broadcast having consensual sex on camera.
Prime Minister Julia Gillard has told Fairfax radio the allegations are very disappointing.
"A lot of work has gone into changing the culture in the Army to make it embracive of women. I'm very disappointed, I'm very concerned and clearly the material here is repugnant," she said.
Mr Smith says the latest scandal will damage the reputation of the Army and have a real impact in the ranks of the entire Defence Force.
"To the Army to the Air Force and Navy, the service chiefs, all of whom are seeking to encourage more women to join, this is a backwards step," he said.
"This will discourage women from thinking about either joining the Army, the Air Force or the Navy, or continuing their career," he said.
Lt Gen Morrison says he would still encourage women to join the Army.
"I would say the Army workplace environment will provide challenges for you because we are yet to deal completely with the issues that confront many other workplaces in Australian society in terms of employment for women," he said.
"But I got to tell you the hundreds of thousands of women who are part of our Army are doing an extraordinary job."
Army scandal - experience levels
Those suspended or under investigation include commissioned and non-commissioned officers with years of experience and in dozens or in some cases hundreds of soldiers under their command.
Rank ...... Status ...... Level of Experience
Lieutenant-Colonel .. Commissioned officer .. More than a decade of service. Usually in command of units of up to 650 soldiers and responsible for unit's military capability. Highest of the non-senior ranks.
Major .. Commissioned officer .. Usually between eight and 10 years service. Command a sub-unit (a company, squadron or battery) of 120 soldiers. Also employed in HQ staff roles.
Captain .. Commissioned officer .. Usually between three and eight years experience and 2IC of a sub-unit of 120 soldiers.
Warrant Officer .. Non-commissioned .. A Class One officer is senior adviser to a unit commanding officer, responsible for discipline of up to 650 officers and soldiers. Typically has 18 years of service.
Corporal .. Non-commissioned .. Usually six to eight years service. Command of small group of soldiers. Can be used as instructors to train junior soldiers.
Source: army.gov.au
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-06-13/experts-say-sexism-is-deeply-ingrained-within-defence-force/4752658
.. remember this one ..
Australia’s PM Julia Gillard Rips Misogynist a New One in Epic Speech
http://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_id=80369189
.. which fits nicely with General Morrison ..
http://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_id=89031812
.. some more ..
Australia army slams sexist soldiers
2013-06-14 11:26
(AFP)
Related Links
'Shocking' abuse in Australian army
http://www.news24.com/World/News/Shocking-abuse-in-Australian-army-20120710
Aus army chief wants more women
http://www.news24.com/World/News/Aus-army-chief-wants-more-women-20120229
Australia army slams Facebook page
http://www.news24.com/SciTech/News/Australia-army-slams-Facebook-page-20120301
-------
INSERT: this posted a year ago
Chief of Army responds to questions around ADF culture
Published on Mar 1, 2012
The Chief of Army, Lieutenant General David Morrison, responds to our story on Facebook comments by past and present ADF personnel and discusses the army's approach to social media.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4YC8pfHV9Q
no wonder he is angry today .. yet, it is very difficult to change such a disgraceful culture .. hard work and takes time ..
-------
Sydney - Australia's army chief on Friday told troops to quit if they could not respect women, warning he would ruthlessly rid the military of misogynist men after a new sex scandal exploded.
Lieutenant-General David Morrison said no stone would be left unturned to weed out those who "exploit and demean" female recruits.
"I will be ruthless in ridding the army of people who cannot live up to its values," he said in a message posted on the Australian Defence Force website and YouTube.
"Those who think that it is okay to behave in a way that demeans or exploits their colleagues have no place in this army.
"If that does not suit you, then get out. You may find another employer where your attitude is accepted, but I doubt it.
"The same goes for those who think that toughness is built on humiliating others."
The hardline comments follow Morrison's revelations on Thursday that 17 personnel, including officers, were under investigation after hundreds of "explicit and repugnant" emails and images demeaning women were uncovered.
Almost 100 other recruits were implicated.
‘Skype scandal’
The Australian newspaper on Friday said officers allegedly filmed themselves having sex with women, including colleagues and civilians, then distributed the images to military personnel around the country.
The Sydney Morning Herald reported that the ring of soldiers at the heart of the scandal called themselves the Jedi Council, swapping footage of their sexual encounters without the women's knowledge.
Morrison said the reports were a "fair description" of what he had been told.
The revelations follow a government report last year detailing more than 1 000 claims of sexual or other abuse in the forces from the 1950s to the present day.
It also depicted a culture in the military of covering up, failing to punish perpetrators and hostility towards victims who complained.
That report was sparked by the so-called Skype scandal in 2011, when footage of a young male recruit having sex with a female classmate was streamed online to cadets in another room without her knowledge.
Morrison said the military was working hard to change, implementing new policies on social media, recruitment and the way in which complaints are handled, and urged soldiers to come forward with any similar incidents.
"If you become aware of any individual degrading another then show moral courage and take a stand against them," he said in the message.
"No-one has ever explained to me how the exploitation and degradation of others enhances capability or honours the traditions of the Australian army.
http://www.news24.com/World/News/Australia-army-slams-sexist-soldiers-20130614
thanks again to, sideeki and SoxFan, for mentioning this disgrace to Australian woanhood .. :)
By Simon Lauder, staff - Updated Fri Jun 14, 2013 6:56am AEST
Video: Army admits new sexual controversy (7.30)
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-06-13/worse-than-skype-scandal---army-admits-new-sexual/4752862
.. embedded ..
Related Story: Defence Force rocked by explicit email scandal
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-06-13/lieutenant-general-david-morrison/4751800
Map: Australia - http://maps.google.com/?q=-26.000,134.500(Australia)&z=5
The latest Defence scandal has prompted calls for a zero-tolerance approach to
misconduct, with experts suggesting that ingrained sexism in the Army may be worse than first thought.
The Chief of the Army, Lieutenant General David Morrison, yesterday revealed three personnel had been stood down over a series of explicit and offensive emails .. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-06-13/lieutenant-general-david-morrison/4751800 .. that degrade women.
A further five personnel are facing suspension and nine others are being investigated, with around 90 more people implicated in the emails.
On Thursday night Lt Gen Morrison told 7.30 he has been in contact with several of the women targeted by the emails to apologise.
-------
Key points:
* Three senior Army personnel suspended, five facing suspension and nine under investigation.
* 90 people implicated over the emails, which contained explicit and offensive images and text.
* Women at the centre of the emails are angry and concerned.
* Email scandal said to be worse than the Skype incident due to the seniority of the staff involved.
* Incidents occurred during the investigation of sexism and sexual abuse within Defence Force.
-------
"There are victims of this group's alleged behaviour who have been denigrated in different ways," he said.
"Some through texts, some through distortion of imagery, some through the distribution of material without consent."
Defence Minister Stephen Smith says the Army should take a zero-tolerance approach to the misconduct.
Australia's Sex Discrimination Commissioner, Elizabeth Broderick, made a similar recommendation when she investigated the culture of sexism in the Defence Force less than a year ago.
The email scandal involves a Lieutenant Colonel, majors, warrant officers, sergeants and corporals.
Ms Broderick says she is appalled at the range of people implicated.
"That's what's so abhorrent about it and it also shows the complexity of the issues that have to be solved," she said.
Video: Elizabeth Broderick discusses 'systemic cultural issue' in Defence Force (ABC News)
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-06-13/elizabeth-broderick-discusses-systemic-cultural/4752178 .. embedded ..
"Because this is just not a particular rank who are all coming together, it's across from senior officers - Lieutenant Colonel - right through to general enlistment."
Culture of sexually objectifying women
Dr Ben Wadham spent five years in the Australian Defence Force and is now a sociologist at Flinders University.
Dr Wadham, a former infantryman, says the use of images to denigrate women is a long-standing tradition in the Australian Defence Forces, but he says the involvement of senior personnel shows the problem may be much worse than previously thought.
"My own experience of being involved in Facebook groups, watching soldiers engage in this sort of behaviour... younger soldiers and... soldiers of different ranks, and the kinds of imagery - the kinds of words and meanings and names and things which come out - are often quite extreme," he said.
"This is a case of quite senior officers over a long period of time and we've just got to ask the question, when will military culture get this right?"
Dr Wadham says the senior ranks of those involved shows that sexism is not confined to young members of the Defence Force.
"I think it also highlights many of the excuses that the Australian Defence Force has used over the past don't hold water," he said.
Video: Chief of Army addresses latest sexual scandal (7.30)
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-06-13/chief-of-army-addresses-latest-sexual-scandal/4752866 .. embedded..
"In the past, we've blamed it on young men. We've said that this is the sort of behaviour we see in broader society, even in universities. Well, here's an example of a very entrenched culture, a predatory culture amongst a group of men sexually objectifying women."
Lt Gen Morrison was at a loss when he was asked to explain why the poor behaviour persists in the Defence Force.
"I don't have one. I can't be more honest with you than that. I can't put a theory on it. I certainly can't find an easy switch to flick to turn it off," he said.
"I suspect that it's rooted in part in human nature, but that's no excuse either. It's on me. I'm responsible for this, I'm the Chief of the Australian Army.
"This is a setback, but I'm going to pick myself up, use it in conversations with the workforce of Army, reflect on where things have gone wrong and try and put them right."
'Backwards step' for women in defence
The email scandal comes as the Defence Force tries to recover from the 2011 Skype incident, in which a female ADFA cadet was unknowingly broadcast having consensual sex on camera.
Prime Minister Julia Gillard has told Fairfax radio the allegations are very disappointing.
"A lot of work has gone into changing the culture in the Army to make it embracive of women. I'm very disappointed, I'm very concerned and clearly the material here is repugnant," she said.
Mr Smith says the latest scandal will damage the reputation of the Army and have a real impact in the ranks of the entire Defence Force.
"To the Army to the Air Force and Navy, the service chiefs, all of whom are seeking to encourage more women to join, this is a backwards step," he said.
"This will discourage women from thinking about either joining the Army, the Air Force or the Navy, or continuing their career," he said.
Lt Gen Morrison says he would still encourage women to join the Army.
"I would say the Army workplace environment will provide challenges for you because we are yet to deal completely with the issues that confront many other workplaces in Australian society in terms of employment for women," he said.
"But I got to tell you the hundreds of thousands of women who are part of our Army are doing an extraordinary job."
Army scandal - experience levels
Those suspended or under investigation include commissioned and non-commissioned officers with years of experience and in dozens or in some cases hundreds of soldiers under their command.
Rank ...... Status ...... Level of Experience
Lieutenant-Colonel .. Commissioned officer .. More than a decade of service. Usually in command of units of up to 650 soldiers and responsible for unit's military capability. Highest of the non-senior ranks.
Major .. Commissioned officer .. Usually between eight and 10 years service. Command a sub-unit (a company, squadron or battery) of 120 soldiers. Also employed in HQ staff roles.
Captain .. Commissioned officer .. Usually between three and eight years experience and 2IC of a sub-unit of 120 soldiers.
Warrant Officer .. Non-commissioned .. A Class One officer is senior adviser to a unit commanding officer, responsible for discipline of up to 650 officers and soldiers. Typically has 18 years of service.
Corporal .. Non-commissioned .. Usually six to eight years service. Command of small group of soldiers. Can be used as instructors to train junior soldiers.
Source: army.gov.au
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-06-13/experts-say-sexism-is-deeply-ingrained-within-defence-force/4752658
.. remember this one ..
Australia’s PM Julia Gillard Rips Misogynist a New One in Epic Speech
http://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_id=80369189
.. which fits nicely with General Morrison ..
http://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_id=89031812
.. some more ..
Australia army slams sexist soldiers
2013-06-14 11:26
(AFP)
Related Links
'Shocking' abuse in Australian army
http://www.news24.com/World/News/Shocking-abuse-in-Australian-army-20120710
Aus army chief wants more women
http://www.news24.com/World/News/Aus-army-chief-wants-more-women-20120229
Australia army slams Facebook page
http://www.news24.com/SciTech/News/Australia-army-slams-Facebook-page-20120301
-------
INSERT: this posted a year ago
Chief of Army responds to questions around ADF culture
Published on Mar 1, 2012
The Chief of Army, Lieutenant General David Morrison, responds to our story on Facebook comments by past and present ADF personnel and discusses the army's approach to social media.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4YC8pfHV9Q
no wonder he is angry today .. yet, it is very difficult to change such a disgraceful culture .. hard work and takes time ..
-------
Sydney - Australia's army chief on Friday told troops to quit if they could not respect women, warning he would ruthlessly rid the military of misogynist men after a new sex scandal exploded.
Lieutenant-General David Morrison said no stone would be left unturned to weed out those who "exploit and demean" female recruits.
"I will be ruthless in ridding the army of people who cannot live up to its values," he said in a message posted on the Australian Defence Force website and YouTube.
"Those who think that it is okay to behave in a way that demeans or exploits their colleagues have no place in this army.
"If that does not suit you, then get out. You may find another employer where your attitude is accepted, but I doubt it.
"The same goes for those who think that toughness is built on humiliating others."
The hardline comments follow Morrison's revelations on Thursday that 17 personnel, including officers, were under investigation after hundreds of "explicit and repugnant" emails and images demeaning women were uncovered.
Almost 100 other recruits were implicated.
‘Skype scandal’
The Australian newspaper on Friday said officers allegedly filmed themselves having sex with women, including colleagues and civilians, then distributed the images to military personnel around the country.
The Sydney Morning Herald reported that the ring of soldiers at the heart of the scandal called themselves the Jedi Council, swapping footage of their sexual encounters without the women's knowledge.
Morrison said the reports were a "fair description" of what he had been told.
The revelations follow a government report last year detailing more than 1 000 claims of sexual or other abuse in the forces from the 1950s to the present day.
It also depicted a culture in the military of covering up, failing to punish perpetrators and hostility towards victims who complained.
That report was sparked by the so-called Skype scandal in 2011, when footage of a young male recruit having sex with a female classmate was streamed online to cadets in another room without her knowledge.
Morrison said the military was working hard to change, implementing new policies on social media, recruitment and the way in which complaints are handled, and urged soldiers to come forward with any similar incidents.
"If you become aware of any individual degrading another then show moral courage and take a stand against them," he said in the message.
"No-one has ever explained to me how the exploitation and degradation of others enhances capability or honours the traditions of the Australian army.
http://www.news24.com/World/News/Australia-army-slams-sexist-soldiers-20130614
thanks again to, sideeki and SoxFan, for mentioning this disgrace to Australian woanhood .. :)
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