Above watch: A day after a scathing report was released about rampant sexism and misogyny in Canada’s Armed Forces, a Dartmouth woman speaks out about her own personal experience in the military. Julia Wong has her story.
HALIFAX – A Dartmouth woman is providing a firsthand account of the misogyny and sexism she faces on a regular basis in the military.
Petty Officer Second Class Kerry Houghton has served in the Navy for 24 years. She will be released next month.
She spoke candidly with Global News about her experiences in the military, a day after a scathing report was released about sexual misconduct in Canada’s Armed Forces.
READ MORE: Contract reveals limited scope of military’s million-dollar sexual harassment investigation
Houghton said she endured a sexual assault in 1992. The alleged incident did not take place in a military setting, but was at the hands of another military member.
“I went to my supervisor and I told him what happened. He told me to chalk it up to a bad drinking experience,” she said.
Houghton said she was one of the first female members on the HMCS Gatineau, and describes a hostile environment.
“I was the only female for some time. They despised me. The guys didn’t like me. I knew they didn’t want me there,” she said.
She endured misogynistic jokes and conversations, including one with a colleague about some exercise equipment.
“I came into my workspace and said the exercise equipment was getting pretty bad. It needed to be replaced. A guy said, ‘Yeah it’s been rode 10,000 times. It needs to be replaced.’ And someone piped up, ‘Well Kerry doesn’t need to be replaced’,” she said.
Houghton admits she laughed at the comment, but tells Global News she only did it to protect herself.
“You have to cover yourself. You have to put that thick skin on to be part of the boy’s club.”
The sailor said “becoming one of the boys” was the only way she was able to function, and she said that desensitization was her method of coping.
“I would say the majority of people would rather keep their mouth shut and live with the pain than actually say something and have something fixed.”
Houghton expects it will take time for cultural changes to permeate throughout the entire military, but she is hopeful.
“Something needs to be done. Obviously there’s a problem there where people have been keeping things quiet.”
Maya Eichler, an assistant professor in political studies and women’s studies at Mount Saint Vincent University, researches gender and the Armed Forces.
She said the report released Thursday confirms what researchers already knew about the military – it exhibits a sexualized, misogynistic and often homophobic culture.
Eichler said part of the problem is due to the male dominated institution of the military, but the other part is the type of masculinity promoted within the military.
Eichler said recognition and acknowledgement of the issue is the first step. She said changes may come through other means.
Jackie Stevens, the executive director of Avalon Sexual Assault Centre, said it is important to acknowledge the rampant sexualized violence in the military.
“Maybe that silence can be broken and we can look at what are other ways in which people can be able to do their jobs within the military and be safe within the military and not have to experienced sexualized violence?”
The report contained 10 recommendations. The military has so far accepted two. It said it will accept the other eight, most of which are linked to the need for an independent agency to handle sexual assault and harrasment, in principle.
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