Citation

Bonnes S. Violence Against Women 2019; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Affiliation

University of New Haven, West Haven, CT, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/1077801219873433

PMID

31549580

Abstract

Using data from in-depth interviews with 38 U.S. service-women, this article explores women's responses to sexual harassment in the military workplace. I argue that in an extremely gendered and masculine institution, sexual harassment threatens service-women's identities as military insiders, presenting an identity dilemma for them. To resolve this dilemma, women prioritize their masculinity and downplay and excuse harassment. In contrast, service-women who have experienced sexual assault or combat confront sexual harassment. I argue that this is possible because for these two groups of women, sexual harassment does not present an identity dilemma. I show how masculinity is used to downplay and normalize harassment as well as to resist it.

Language: en

Keywords

identity work; masculinity; military; sexual assault; sexual harassment