Sexual coercion is an act that occurs when one person tries to force another into unwanted sexual activities against their will. This can happen through physical force, threats, blackmail, manipulation, or coercion. It is often seen as a power dynamic where the aggressor has more control than the victim. Sexual coercion is a serious problem for military personnel because it can lead to psychosexual consequences such as mental health issues, relational dysfunction, and identity crisis. In this essay, I will discuss how sexual coercion affects soldiers' mental health, relational functioning, and identity.
Mental Health: Soldiers who experience sexual coercion may suffer from anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and other mental illnesses. They may feel ashamed, guilty, scared, helpless, and alone. They may also develop distrust towards others and become isolated from friends and family members. Sexual coercion can cause flashbacks of the trauma they experienced during the incident, leading to intrusive thoughts and nightmares. These symptoms can be severe enough to interfere with daily life activities such as work, school, and social interactions.
Relational Functioning: The victim of sexual coercion may have difficulty trusting others due to the betrayal by their partner or friend. They might avoid intimate relationships altogether or struggle with setting boundaries in new ones. They could also develop relationship problems such as jealousy, possessiveness, and insecurity. These issues can damage their self-esteem and make them feel unworthy of love and support.
Victims may distance themselves from their partner due to fear or guilt about what happened between them. This can lead to emotional distance, isolation, and loneliness within the relationship.
Identity Crisis: Victims of sexual coercion often experience a loss of control over their bodies and lives. They may question their own worth and believe that they deserve such treatment because it is something wrong with them. They could also blame themselves for what happened, which can cause feelings of shame and guilt. Their self-identity becomes shaken up and they may doubt who they are as a person. Soldiers who have been sexually coerced may lose faith in themselves, their abilities, and their future goals. They may feel lost without a sense of purpose or direction.
Soldiers experiencing sexual coercion face psychosexual consequences such as mental health issues, relational dysfunction, and identity crisis. It's essential to seek professional help to address these issues and recover from trauma. Awareness campaigns should be conducted among military personnel to educate them on how to recognize signs of sexual coercion, its effects, and available resources for support. By understanding this issue, we can work towards preventing it and promoting better mental health outcomes for our servicemen and women.
What are the psychosexual consequences of sexual coercion on mental health, relational functioning, and identity in soldiers?
Sexual coercion is a form of rape that involves unwanted sexual contact where one party is pressured into engaging in unwanted sexual activities due to the threat of physical violence, social isolation, or other forms of harm (Hatfield et al. , 2017).