Investigation: Half of female conscripts report unwanted sexual attention and harassment
DR-Inland in Denmark
Monday, November 04, 2024 • 7:00 AM UTC - in Denmark
In recent years, there have been several stories about issues in the Danish military. Among other things, several women have come forward and shared their experiences (
Something suggests that not enough has been done. What do you think the reason is?
- I believe it's because there wasn't necessarily the same level of political attention on this issue historically as there is now, responds Troels Lund Poulsen.
- And that's only natural, he adds.
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Minister: The military should be a good and safe workplace
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From 2027, there will be full gender equality in military service in Denmark (
And if there are women who are reconsidering their time in the military, the minister has a message for them.
- I will say that we have the greatest attention on making the military as good and safe a workplace as possible.
- We will also continue to work on this and will also need to become even better at taking further initiatives, as we have done in the past.
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'The last idiot hasn't been born yet'
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The military has not been able to respond to an interview request from DR, but has provided a written response.
In it, it is stated among other things:
- We are a completely different place than we were just a few years ago, and we have made great strides in becoming an attractive community, regardless of who you are, says General Lieutenant Kenneth Pedersen, commander of the Military Staff.
- The vetting investigation underlines that the last idiot hasn't been born yet. But veterans and all others who have experienced bullying should know that we in the military will persistently and resolutely insist that such behavior is not welcome among us, it also states.
From a political perspective, there has been a committee set up to advise the military on the matter. There are representatives from both the military and society outside.
Especially the work here is seen very positively by the Women Veterans Association, says the chairman Karen Philippa Larsen. And already, there are concrete ideas on the table.
- There should be a strong focus on support opportunities for female conscripts. It should be clear to them where they can go with these experiences, and it should be easy for them to seek support to speak out in these situations.
At the Women Veterans Association, they are not surprised by the findings of the investigation, as they have already heard similar stories from their members.
The Women Veterans Association recognizes that there is now an effort being made in the military to address the issues. But there is a need for a targeted effort towards 2027, so that there are more women who choose to stay after their conscript service is over, says Karen Philippa Larsen.
What would it mean if things continue as they are?
- The risk is that women will feel like guests on men's workplaces and do not want to continue after their conscript service – or that they do not have a particularly positive experience with their conscript service.
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'Shop floor culture' must go
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The report, which has just been made public, has asked conscripts in both the army, navy, and air force.
While there are differences in the numbers in the different branches of the military, the conscripts report that it is most often another conscript who has carried out unwanted sexual attention and harassment, as well as discrimination, bullying, threats of violence, and violence.
The Veterans Council, which is the conscripts' advocacy organization, also believes that the number in the survey is too high.
The Council points to the fact that it is the regiments and commanding officers, along with the conscripts, who must change the culture by getting rid of the sexist language and the 'shop floor culture' and replace it with an inclusive, modern behavior.
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About the investigation
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* In the 2023 report, which has only just been made public, 53.5 percent (159 out of 297) of female conscripts report that they have experienced at least one incident of unwanted sexual attention or harassment during their conscript service.
* The same applies to 18.9 percent of male conscripts.
* For women, the most common occurrences are that they have experienced derogatory comments about women/men (36.0 percent), have been excluded from tasks due to gender (31.3 percent), and have been asked to overperform due to gender (24.9 percent).
* The conscripts report that it is most often another conscript (41.4 percent) who has carried out unwanted sexual attention and harassment, as well as discrimination, bullying, threats of violence, and violence.
* The investigation shows that 88.6 percent of female conscripts would recommend conscript service in a very high or high degree. The same applies to 80.2 percent of male conscripts.
* A similar report has been made for conscripts in the Home Guard. Here, 50 out of 68 women report that they have experienced at least one incident of unwanted sexual attention or harassment.
Source: Investigation into conscript training, well-being, and bullying 2023
Emil Eir Frederiksen also praises the military for already taking action on the issue.
- The military has done superbly in changing the culture, and there have been advances. There are also action plans that we can see in effect. But there is still more to be done.
Do you think enough is being done?
- There is clearly not enough being done. There is clearly still a culture where people are being bullied, and that's something that needs to be addressed harder.
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