Tag Archives: Equality

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Slut Shaming

The Prelude of Sexual Violence Against Women in the Military

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“As a woman in the military you can either be a slut or a b****. Choose the latter.” This was the first piece of advice I received after arriving to my unit. If I appeared too friendly or smiled too often-particularly with males, I would be perceived as a “slut”. Someone who flirts (or more) her way to the top than earning it. Better to be a “b****'”- cold and aloof, than have a warm disposition misinterpreted.

A soldier crawls under barbed wire during assessment and selection at Camp Mackall, N.C., March 1, 2021. Women in uniform face obstacles a lot thornier and more dangerous than barbed wire. (U.S. Army photo by K. Kassens)
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Missing the Mark: The US Army’s Project Athena

Revising a Poorly Named Leadership Survey

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The Army Mission Command Center of Excellence (MCCoE) recently unveiled Project Athena Self-Development Tool, the “Army’s premier effort to provide leaders feedback about the skills, capabilities, and tendencies they possess and how those individual differences relate to being a strong leader.” There are several reasons for soldiers to be concerned if this effort is the best that the Center for the Army Profession and Leadership can put forward during a period of challenges in recruitment, retention, and public opinion.

1st Lt. Kelly Brown from Apache Troop, 3rd Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division conducts a 5-mile run as part of the Bronco Fitness Challenge at F-Quad, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii on Mar. 22, 2021. The Bronco Fitness Challenge is a competition over the course of three days that assesses Soldiers on their muscular strength, muscular endurance, anaerobic, and aerobic endurance in order to give feedback on their physical readiness and gain the title of the fittest Soldier in the brigade. (U.S. Army photo by 1st Lt. Angelo Mejia)
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Athena Thriving II

A Unit Guide to Leading Pregnant and Postpartum Soldiers

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The United States Army has come a long way since the days of the Women’s Army Corps, an era when regulations mandated involuntary separation for pregnant women, while reporting them as having a “sickness; not in the line of duty.” While progress has been encouraging since World War II, we can continue to do better. Frustrating incidents of ignorance, stigmatization, discrimination, and substandard leadership and care of pregnant and postpartum soldiers still occur. These incidents occur despite the success and grit of numerous Army women who have sacrificed for our nation and excelled in their duties while carrying and raising children. 

Photo courtesy of Julie Edler Photography
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Breaking Implicit Racial Bias

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Events of the past year cast a new spotlight on the racial injustice that plagues our country. On May 25, 2020, George Floyd’s horrific death brought new momentum to the Black Lives Matter movement. George Floyd inspired millions nationwide to take a stand against racial injustice, to include inside the military. It spurred many to reflect about our Black teammates and how we have failed them. Racial inequity infects our military just as it does society at large. We have a duty to fix it. We need systemic change, and we can’t wait any longer. Social psychology offers promising strategies we can use to break implicit bias and begin moving towards racial equity within our ranks.

CAMP HUMPHREYS, Republic of Korea – Pfc. Emmy Jeudy, center, is a religious affairs specialist assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, United States Army Garrison Humphreys. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Matthew Marcellus)