BY FELICITY COGGAN
AUCKLAND, New Zealand - The abuse of women that permeates all imperialist military forces has been highlighted by recent complaints women have issued in the New Zealand Navy.

On the television documentary 60 Minutes, screened here March 16, Larissa Turner, a 21-year-old former naval gunner, described almost daily incidences of verbal and physical abuse that she experienced on the New Zealand frigate Wellington during a six-month voyage to the Persian Gulf during 1995-96. The frigate, crewed by 25 women and 225 men, was sent to the Gulf to help police Washington's blockade against Iraq - the first operational mission in which a New Zealand frigate has been sent overseas with a mixed-sex crew.

A female radio operator, still in the Navy, described on the program how a junior rating supervising her offered to let her off certain work tasks in return for oral sex. A sample of a T- shirt worn by a number of crew members was also displayed. On the front, in vertical lettering, was the word B-I-T-C-H-E-S, and, alongside, the words "Biggest Inconvenience The Crew Has Ever Suffered." One of the male crew members appeared on the program to back the women's claims.

Turner has now laid a complaint against 13 male crew and officers with the Human Rights Commission. Three other similar complaints, including one from the radio operator, have apparently been dealt with informally. Turner has also criticized the reluctance of the Navy command to act on such complaints, including not taking disciplinary action against some crew members who have admitted carrying out these acts. She has also reported an incident of rape of a female sailor at the Devonport Naval Base in Auckland.

The reports have attracted comment on whether women should be expected to see such harassment as simply part of the job. Captain Corry Beentjes, now the highest ranking woman in the New Zealand defence forces, reported how when, 26 years ago, she encountered sexual harassment as a young recruit, she was told by a senior woman officer to "lie back and enjoy it". Though she claims that attitudes in the Navy have changed, she also stated that such instances were probably inevitable when one group dominates over another. Ronald Mark, a New Zealand First member of parliament, added his view in a radio interview. "When you put men and women together in certain roles, you do open up possibilities for such things to happen," the rightist politician said. "Not every male, not every female is as strong as the one standing next to them."

Women in the military like Larissa Turner, who refuse to accept that she should be expected to endure such harassment, have been able to win some gains by fighting such discrimination.

Following the publicity around these complaints, Chief of Defence Force Lt-General Anthony Birks was hauled before Parliament's foreign affairs, defence and trade select committee. He told the committee that the defence force was responding to the allegations by setting up a toll free number for complaints about sexual harassment, appointing equal employment opportunity coordinators in the armed forces, and increasing numbers of anti-harassment advisers.

Felicity Coggan is a member of the Engineers Union in Auckland.  
 
 
Front page (for this issue) | Home | Text-version home