Sexual harassment in the military

Sexual harassment in the military is unwanted sexual behaviour experienced as threatening, offensive, or otherwise upsetting, which occurs in a military setting.

Sexual harassment is more common in military than civilian life. Military women and men experience unwanted behaviours disproportionately, particularly younger women and girls. Other groups at high risk include partners of personnel, child cadets, and military detainees.

Risk factors characteristic of a military setting include the young average age of personnel, isolated workplaces, the minority status of women, hierarchical power relationships, a culture of conformity, the predominance of traditionally masculine values and behaviours, and a heavy drinking culture. Harassment is particularly common in certain settings, notably centres for initial military training and theatres of war.

Experience of harassment can be traumatic. It increases the risk of stress-related mental illness, particularly post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Nonetheless, typically most of those targeted choose not to raise a formal complaint, expecting repercussions if they do.

Despite the development of prevention programmes in recent years, official statistics in Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States report increasing rates of sexual harassment in the military.