Totem Pole of Discrimination

Steven Lee Myers discusses sexual abuse amongst fellow comrades in the United States Army within his article, “A Peril in War Zones: Sexual Abuse by Fellow G.I.’s.” Although United States citizens often acknowledge the savage and horrific rape that occurs in areas overseas, such as the Congo, they too often overlook the similar behavior that occurs in this country. Americans abuse Americans both on foreign and domestic soil. It is unclear how soldiers, whose lives are at risk, continue to abuse each other. The most disturbing part of the article was the stated fear of privates to report sexual abuse by higher-ranking officers. It should be noted that the number of reported sexual assaults in the army has increased. Several questions arise. Is the army now making it more comfortable for victims or witnesses to come forward? On the contrary, is sexual abuse within the army simply rising and the percentage of reported abuse remaining stable? Unfortunately, same gender sexual abuse often remains hidden because soldiers fear that their sexuality will come into question. Until all incidents are reported and all crimes tried, it remains unacceptable. Sexual abuse in the army, as well as society large, is a crime and all reports need to be seriously evaluated.

Kimberle Williams Crenshaw introduces the Intersectionality Theory within her work, “Mapping the Margins: Intersectionality, Identity Politics, and Violence Against Women of Color.” Ms. Crenshaw focuses on multilevel discrimination of minority women based on race, gender, and ethnicity. When these women are persecuted, they have nowhere to turn. Ms. Crenshaw offers numerous examples as well as statistics to substantiate her theory. The voice of these subgroups is too often silenced. Until feminist groups unify and represent all women, persecution of minority subgroups will often go unheard. There is a significant problem I had with Ms. Crenshaw’s article. The author, an African American woman who graduated from Columbia Law School, discusses the multitude of problems that exist for women due to race, color, or economics. Unfortunately, she presents her theory in a complex manner that is often difficult to follow and understand. As a Colgate junior, I often had to reread sentences in order to fully comprehend her ideas. I question if women, from the minority groups she refers, are aware of her theory or could comprehend her complex article. Ideas should be expressed so individuals can understand and utilize the premises it presents.