Author: Hank Nuwer

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Men and Masculinities, Vol. 8, No. 4, 470-492 (2006)
DOI: 10.1177/1097184X05277411
© 2006 SAGE Publications

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Men and Women’s Experiences with Hazing in a Male-Dominated Elite Military Institution

Jana L. Pershing San Diego State University

Numerous studies have documented the prevalence of hazing rituals and other rites of initiation in predominantly male organizations, including the military. However, little is known about how gender is related to hazing, specifically in male-dominated institutions where women are a relatively newpopulation. This case study draws on survey and interview data to examine both differences and similarities in men and women’s experiences with hazing in an elite military institution: the U.S. Naval Academy, which is the U.S. Department of Defense’s service academy for training Naval and Marine Corps officers. Although women have attended the Naval Academy since 1976, they comprise only 10% of the student population. Despite attempts to eradicate hazing, findings reveal that not only is hazing pervasive but that men and women are equally likely to experience it during their first year at the Academy. This suggests that one’s status as a plebe (freshman) overrides one’s gendered status. Men and women’s attitudes about hazing, however, vary on some issues. Men are more likely than women to agree that certain types of hazing should be allowed at the Academy and are less likely to perceive negative consequences of reporting hazing. In contrast, men and women are equally likely to agree that the rigors of plebe year should be used to eliminate students who are not committed to the military. In addition to calling for an expansion of hazing research to include an examination of gender, a primary implication of the findings presented here is that future studies take into account the impact of men and women’s shared experiences as initiates or new members of formal institutions.

Key Words: hazing • U.S. Naval Academy • gender differences • gender similarities • military training • military socialization • total institution

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      Salt Lake County sheriff’s detectives were investigating Thursday a sexual assault at a high school football camp involving players.
The incident, according to investigators, appears to be more than just a hazing.
The assault happened early on the morning of July 11 at Camp Williams, where at least two high schools, both from Utah County, were participating in a football camp, Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Sgt. Paul Jaroscak said.
He said the investigation was still in its early stages Thursday, but it appeared that some “hard hitting” happened at the camp during practice and some players took exception to it.
Early the next morning, a 15-year-old sophomore from Lehi High School was assaulted by “multiple” people, Jaroscak said.
“This may have been in retaliation,” he said. “A foreign object was used in the sexual assault.”
Detectives described the victim as being “severely traumatized” by the incident.

http://www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060720/LIVING/607200346/1004

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Brown sued Shepas, assistant coach Paul Salvino, Hennon, Massillon City Schools and 30 unnamed players.

The case was filed in Stark County Common Pleas Court, then moved to the U.S. District Court in Cleveland.

Brown transferred to Massillon in 2003 and attended a team football camp at West Virginia University. According to the lawsuit, Brown was teased by players and coaches because of his shaggy hair.

Brown accused Shepas of pantomiming shaving his head in front of teammates. After camp curfew, Brown said 10 teammates tried to shave his head with a razor, but he fought them off by swinging a helmet.

However, the suit said, 30 players came to Brown’s room the next morning, and three players sat on him while his head was shaved. Brown said he passed out because of the weight of the players on his chest.

One of the issues in the lawsuit was the depth and scope that Shepas investigated the incident. Also, Brown accused a football booster who was a chaperone on the trip of telling him not to say anything about it because it would hurt the team.