Military Suicides and Rape

The New York Times of January 20th, 2012 reported that a record level of suicides among active duty service members in 2011, despite an ongoing emphasis on drug and alcohol counseling and suicide prevention by the military in recognition of the ongoing nature of the problem. Also in 2011, a nearly 30% increase in violent sex crimes was recorded among these same troops, with more than half of the victims of these assaults being female active duty soldiers between 18 and 21 years of age.

This is not only disturbing, but ironic, given that a frequent rationale given by advocates of intervention in Islamic societies is the poor treatment such societies allegedly offer to women. In any case, these events are poor for morale and detrimental to the image of the service at home and abroad. The military is to be commended for publicly acknowledging these unfortunate events and making the effort to prevent others of a similar nature.

From before the dawn of history, war and atrocity have gone hand in hand, though- so any thoughts on the matter are welcome.

Are you going to provide us with a link ? Me, thinks that the angler is on another fishing trip.

Suicide increase is probably a real trend. Far less certain about sex-crimes, which could be more sampling bias and increased willingness of young women to report incidents due to increased training and emphasis on their protection, confidentiality and better training for First Sergeants and Commanders on how to handle such cases etc.

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Originally Posted by Lynx_Fox

Suicide increase is probably a real trend. Far less certain about sex-crimes, which could be more sampling bias and increased willingness of young women to report incidents due to increased training and emphasis on their protection, confidentiality and better training for First Sergeants and Commanders on how to handle such cases etc.

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That last is even more disturbing, implying as it does the sexual assault problem is chronic rather than acute and therefore more entrenched.

Here's a bit more from an article that tries to estimate the rate of unreported violent sex crime and discusses it in the broader context of many soldiers and their families suffering from stress.
U.S. Army: Sex Crimes By Soldiers Up 97 Percent In Five Years

People want to have sex. Alot.

If they have to use force and know they can get away with it, they might try.

The setting of an invasion force/military - is simply "easier" and therefore may happen more frequently.

When it comes to rape I blame religion and not women for its influence on trying to supress human nature. If it was status for women to sleep with as many guys as possible - there would be alot more sex in the world. If people just had sex like crazy - rape would probably be an extremely rare crime. We cant blame women for not sleeping around more to keep men sated, because religion and our own society is way more to blame.

I'd dare say sex deprivation is the number one cause for depression in the world. Each time a woman rejects to sleep with someone - the level of hate in the world increases.

Am I extremely politically incorret? Yeah.

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If people just had sex like crazy - rape would probably be an extremely rare crime.

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Sorry. Doesn't work that way.

Rape is firstly a crime of violence - violation with or without other injury being inflicted or threatened. It's not about "desire" or "sensuality" or "intimacy" or "reproduction" or any other among the hundreds of explanations or rationalisations for sex by force. It's about power.

If your argument had any validity, then noone would ever rape a prostitute. In fact, prostitutes are more, rather than less, likely to be raped than other women. Rape and prostitution: In from the cold | The Economist It's not about sex or sexual availability. It's about power.

I am inclined to agree with the lady- people who FEEL powerless, in their situation, may very well try to oppose or externalize that powerless condition upon someone near, maybe even dear to them. There are people who also enjoy relinquishing power in erotic situations, preferring to be dominated to escape the burden of responsibility. Romance novels are full of breathless descriptions of being "swept away" and "overpowered" but the reality of rape is anything BUT romantic.

It is criminal.

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Romance novels are full of breathless descriptions of being "swept away" and "overpowered"

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Romance writers will use any euphemism to avoid the forbidden 'o' word, while breathlessly implying it for the merest touch or the chastest kiss.

It's the literary equivalent of films cutting away to vision of waves crashing on the shore or fireworks displays.

Or trains plunging into quivering tunnels, wait, they ARE quivering, aren't they? Damned surplus projector, man can't even enjoy the ending of "North by Northwest" without the silly thing getting all wobbly-like...;-)

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Originally Posted by adelady

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If people just had sex like crazy - rape would probably be an extremely rare crime.

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Sorry. Doesn't work that way.

Rape is firstly a crime of violence - violation with or without other injury being inflicted or threatened. It's not about "desire" or "sensuality" or "intimacy" or "reproduction" or any other among the hundreds of explanations or rationalisations for sex by force. It's about power.

If your argument had any validity, then noone would ever rape a prostitute. In fact, prostitutes are more, rather than less, likely to be raped than other women. Rape and prostitution: In from the cold | The Economist It's not about sex or sexual availability. It's about power.

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Yes. Sex-abuse and sex-drive are two totally different entities. Rape and molestation are perpetrated solely out of the desire to cause harm, nothing else.

People have this stupid delusion that rape occurs in the open city and that sex-starved eve-teasers will forms gangs and rape random stranger young girls.

A woman is most likely to be raped by a man she knows and trusts -- boyfriend, family friend, acquaintance, etc. -- and this is most likely to take place in private area where there are few or no witnesses. Again, the perpetrator rapes her because he wants to harm her, not because he is sexually-attracted to her.

The idea that "stranger rape" is a grave concern is complete bull.

If I were female, I'd stay in public places as much as possible -- night and day -- and AVOID being in relationships with men. A public place full of male strangers is the safest place for a young woman, this is where she is LEAST likely to be sexually-abused.

A sex-predator doesn't have to be sexually-excited to make victims.

In addition, a sex-offender doesn't need genitals to molest his victims. Even an emasculated eunuch is fully-capable of raping women and children.

Take any sex-offender, castrate him, and completely rid him of his sex drive and testosterone. He is just as dangerous. If anything, emasculating a rapist makes him more hazardous because he might try to take revenge against the system by raping and killing girls and young women.

How often must I repeat -- "rape is an act of *violence* not *sex*"

There are 4 different kinds of rapists.

1. Power-reassurance rapists
2. Power-assertive rapists
3. Anger-retaliation rapists
4. Anger-excitation rapists

The first type of rapist feels weak and wants to "reassure" himself of his masculinity by overpowering women. This type of rapist often targets older women who he feels have some power over him.

The second type of rapist rapes in an attempt to dominate others. Will usually attack women around his age.

The third type of rapists wants revenge against society. He was likely molested as a child and when he reported it, his peers teased and beat him up and often attacked him with anti-gay and anti-transgender slurs. This rapist is aware that society favors young girls over young boys. He realizes that the same people who ruined his childhood are the same people who have a soft spot for minor girls. He is aware that even the tough guys in prison hate sex-offenders. This type rapist often has long had his suicide planned out and thus feels he has nothing to lose by retaliating against society. Often has the mentality of the boys who pulled off the Columbine tragedy. He wants to hurt male bullies by hurting girls. His targets are often any girl below 18 years of age because that is what will cause the most public outrage. He usually kills the girls he rapes to make it impossible for them to perceive any sympathy society would provide them. So why doesn't he just kill the girls as opposed to raping them? He is aware that society considers raping a girl MUCH worse of an act than just killing her. Murderers are given a lot more respect than rapists. His goal is to cause society as much frustration and anger as society causes him.

The fourth type of rapist is the most despicable. He often rapes transgender women and other social outcasts. He gains pleasure from causing any and all types of harm to his victims -- including rape. He may also attack elderly women and pre-adolescent boys. Often a gang-rapist.

Rape can also take the form of a foreign object, so, while it is comparatively rare, females can rape.

Returning to suicide, this is an extreme manifestation of the desire for control- in such cases the desire is dearer than life itself, literally.

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Originally Posted by Arthur Angler

Rape can also take the form of a foreign object

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One of my points exactly. So while the temptation maybe there, there is no logical reason to castrate sex-offenders [chemically or otherwise]. Chemical castration involves taking drugs that will decrease sex-drive and testosterone. While under probation, sexual predators are often mandated to get this therapy as part of their condition of release from prison. IMHO, this is stupid, because sexual violence -- like any form of violence -- is perpetrated purely out of the desire to cause harm.

To say that castrating a rapist makes him safer, is like saying that castrating a murderer make him safer to be around.

Sexual assault like any form of assault is all about the perpetrator damaging the victim and nothing about the perpetrator's sexual urges.

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Chemical castration involves taking drugs that will decrease sex-drive and testosterone. While under probation, sexual predators are often mandated to get this therapy as part of their condition of release from prison. IMHO, this is stupid, because sexual violence -- like any form of violence -- is perpetrated purely out of the desire to cause harm.

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The flaw in your argument stems from the premise (and perhaps false dichotomy) that there isn't a significant a sexual component to some sexual violence; that premise is probably more a political opinion than a conclusion based on sciences.

While I think there are a lot of problems there following article points out some of the problems with this false dichotomy:
http://www.drtraycehansen.com/Pages/..._politics.html

He states, quite correctly, that rape is cross cultural as one reason to doubt--I'd add it's not only cross cultural-- it's also cross species with some of our closest living primates--some of which use rape as a primary mechanism to breed (gang raping Mountain Gorilla).

Other studies (and studies of studies) support that chemical and actual castration of repeat violent rapist, (as abhorrent as they might seem to human rights advocates) both of which reduce sex drive, does in fact reduce recidivism--sometimes dramatically--although never completely eliminating it.

The Impact of Surgical Castration on Sexual Recidivism Risk Among Sexually Violent Predatory Offenders

Quotes from The Impact of Surgical Castration on Sexual Recidivism Risk Among Sexually Violent Predatory Offenders :

"The critical issue in this case is Mr. A.'s motivation in submitting to a voluntary orchiectomy. There is no evidence that such an action was motivated by his awareness of his psychiatric condition and its relationship to his documented dangerous sexual behavior. Rather, it appears that he elected the surgery as a means by which to gain discharge from his commitment and return to the community. Following orchiectomy, Mr. A. remained essentially psychologically unchanged. He continued to demonstrate hostility toward female staff members, a trait that could be related arguably to misogynistic attitudes. If released, he will not be under parole supervision or any other community social control mechanism."

See what I mean.

Despite castration, Mr. A is still capable of -- and motivated to -- sexually-molest young females.

That type of anecdotal was already covered by my statement that the studies show it's not a complete cure. I'm not arguing an absolute position; you seem to be. And the scientific evidence seems to be against the idea that sexual violence Never have a strong sexual component.

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Originally Posted by Lynx_Fox

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Chemical castration involves taking drugs that will decrease sex-drive and testosterone. While under probation, sexual predators are often mandated to get this therapy as part of their condition of release from prison. IMHO, this is stupid, because sexual violence -- like any form of violence -- is perpetrated purely out of the desire to cause harm.

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The flaw in your argument stems from the premise (and perhaps false dichotomy) that there isn't a significant a sexual component to some sexual violence; that premise is probably more a political opinion than a conclusion based on sciences.

While I think there are a lot of problems there following article points out some of the problems with this false dichotomy:
Dr. Trayce Hansen's Writings

He states, quite correctly, that rape is cross cultural as one reason to doubt--I'd add it's not only cross cultural-- it's also cross species with some of our closest living primates--some of which use rape as a primary mechanism to breed (gang raping Mountain Gorilla).

Other studies (and studies of studies) support that chemical and actual castration of repeat violent rapist, (as abhorrent as they might seem to human rights advocates) both of which reduce sex drive, does in fact reduce recidivism--sometimes dramatically--although never completely eliminating it.

The Impact of Surgical Castration on Sexual Recidivism Risk Among Sexually Violent Predatory Offenders

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Would castration also have the effect of reducing testosterone levels? Changing a person's hormonal composition might affect their levels of aggression. I know it's stereotyping to say having a higher estrogen-to-testosterone ratio will tend to make a person have more empathy, and a bit less anger, but it's at least partially true, isn't it?

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Originally Posted by kojax

Would castration also have the effect of reducing testosterone levels? Changing a person's hormonal composition might affect their levels of aggression. I know it's stereotyping to say having a higher estrogen-to-testosterone ratio will tend to make a person have more empathy, and a bit less anger, but it's at least partially true, isn't it?

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I'm not sure, but it is a great question. There seems to be some research supporting that aggression and testosterone might not in fact be linked in humans--but the ideas is a widely spread false belief from experiments on rats many decades ago.
Testosterone does not induce aggression, study shows

Testosterone linked to aggression, or not. I expect it's all just a bit more complicated than a simple link.

BBC News | HEALTH | Testosterone scores with footballers (Note the results for goalkeepers.)