In light of some recent stories about hazing in the military, and the subsequent suicides, I can’t help but wonder what if things were different. Yes, it’s true, the military is a culture of masculinity and poking fun of each other. If you can’t make a joke or take a joke, then how are you ever going to see levity and handle the more serious parts of war and combat? That’s the rationale, right? And I get it – testing each other’s limits and making fun of each other is a way to form bonds and to learn about each other’s strengths and weaknesses. It’s inherent in military culture.
But then I wonder if some individuals take the ribbing a bit too far. Or I wonder if maybe perhaps, like my military husband says, that we’re all getting too soft and sensitive. And then I also wonder if there are certain segments of the population that are targeted more harshly than others – basically any sort of minority: ethnic/racial minorities (e.g., Asians, Latinos, etc.), religious minorities (e.g. Jews, Muslims, etc.), women, etc.
Hazing/teasing can be an easy way to say that someone “can’t cut it” or “can’t hang” with the rest of the boys. But maybe the hazing/teasing unfairly targets certain individuals more than others because they’re the minority.
And of course teasing does not automatically equal hazing. So what makes what what. Is it the consequence? The suffering of the victim? What?
I’m sure you’ve all read about the death/suicide of Army Private Danny Chen by now. Also, the death/suicide of Marine Lance Corporal Harry Lew. In both these cases, the individuals were made fun of for doing some task badly – an easy target for teasing in the military. To some degree, that’s how you keep people accountable. But then what actually happened? Was the teasing excessive? Were these individuals the only ones targeted in their units?
Then I think about all the stories I hear from the military guys about how sucky the female service members are and/or if they’re not bad at their jobs, then they have terrible personalities, i.e., they’re bitches. Or, how female service members cull favor if they’re attractive, rather than because of their skills. Or, how they’re promoted or selected for certain jobs even if they’re unqualified because the military is trying to be more judicious. Or, or, or. The list goes on and on. But then every one in a hundred female encounters, there will be one good female Marine/soldier/sailor/airwoman where nothing more is said. Rare, though.
I also recall the stories of graduates of the Air Force Academy suing the school for its religious intolerance, and de facto (evangelical) Christianity.
Maybe it’s because minorities of all stripes no longer want to just suck it up and take it, but instead or trying to stand up to it, and instead are getting bashed back down even further.
Who knows.
But we have enough worries on our hands to add knowingly hurting one another to the mix.
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Tags: culture, hazing, military, minorities, suicide
