There may be an interesting and surprising beneficial side effect to the military’s work on fighting sexual assault: Controlling racial extremism.

A team from the Center for Naval Analysis (CNA) recently released a report outlining similarities between work on managing sexual assault, addressing racial inequity and violence, and identifying and quelling white supremacy in the military. 

The paper is interesting for a variety of reasons. Particularly when you look at the key similarities found between two core negative behaviors and how identifying and battling their similarities may help eradicate both.

• Sexual assault and racial extremism exist in a variety of forms and intensities. But no matter the intensity, the infractions are all harmful and dangerous. Gradients of behaviors contribute to both issues. For example, sexual harassment exists not just as rape—but in lesser behaviors like casually sexual comments and inappropriate advances. Similarly, racist jokes and remarks cut to the quick and often open the door for other issues.
• Both sexual assault and racial extremism can result in illegal and prohibited behavior. Sexually explicit and racist jokes may just be the first steps on a path to extreme and violent behavior. Bullying may start with verbal altercations and escalate quickly. 

Seemingly lesser issues may not be reported by victims. But, as aggressors gain momentum and negative behaviors evolve, perpetrators can feel emboldened to hit harder, literally. Victims can feel gaslighted and too scared to report. And, military commanders may continue to permit, ignore, or cover up unlawful behaviors.

Identifying the issues and collecting important data

“How do you stop these activities and behaviors that already are illegal—where their illegality isn’t enough to prevent them from occurring?” asks Megan McBride, one of the CNA report’s authors.

The answer may already exist in the reporting mechanisms that the military currently has in place. McBride suggests that by strengthening the reporting structure for both sexual harassment and violence and racial extremism, it provides people an opportunity to indicate that an inappropriate act has occurred—it also creates an opportunity for the Department of Defense (DoD) to catalog the conduct. By creating a formal database, and studying those findings, we can better understand the depth and scope of the problem.

“If you talk to researchers about the problem of extremism in the military right now, a recurrent theme you hear is we don’t have any data,” McBride shares. Unfortunately, with both sexual and racially motivated misconduct, only the most flagrant or obvious examples of extremism get documented or addressed. This is why having a formal framework and a safe environment for victims to report within, and a trusted catalog in which to track and study data, is essential to studying these behaviors and helping to make strides to preventing behaviors.

Fixing the problem from the inside out

“These two problems are close enough that we can turn to the literature on sexual harassment and sexual assault, and learn an incredible amount … and, even if we don’t have processes that we can replicate perfectly, we can start five steps ahead,” McBride says of her report and findings.  

Those holding higher ranks in the military and government are taking notice, too. Since becoming Defense Secretary, Lloyd J. Austin III has brought new light to a variety of behavioral issues in the military—including sexual assault and racial extremism. But, it is worth noting that these issues are far from being resolved.

Developing a better framework for reporting issues and cataloging those reports could help us better identify problems and find effective and successful solutions. The more information, the better. Findings will go a long way in helping ratify negative behaviors within the military by arming commanders and military lawmakers with valuable information, and enforcing additional insights to help them best police difficult situations.

“Whatever that solution is, it should … create an environment that’s hospitable to the service member of color and inhospitable to his or her racist [or sexist] leader,” McBride says.  

No matter if you are a member of the military or not, if you’re in need of help, please reach out to the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network’s toll-free number at 800-656-4673 (or email its online hotline). You’ll be immediately connected with safe, confidential, anonymous, and no-cost support. One-on-one counseling and information is available 24-hours a day, seven days a week. I also invite you to connect with me. I want to hear your story. You can always reach me at Jakia@jmlindley.com to chat or ask questions.