VOA标准英语2013--Calls Grow For An End to Sexual Assaults in US Military

Calls Grow For An End to Sexual Assaults in US Military

More women are on active military duty than ever before. And as their numbers grow, so do the reports of sexual assaults.   

Calls to do something about it are growing.

“So not only is it a crime, not only is it shameful¹ and disgraceful, but it also is going to make, and has made, the military less effective than it can be. And as such, it is dangerous to our national security," said President Obama. 

Few understand that better than Jenny McClendon, a veteran who was raped³ by a superior while serving in the U.S. Navy. She now works to advocate change through a group called Protect Our Defenders⁴.

"If you can't trust the people that you're working with to have your best interests at heart, if you can't trust the people that you're working with to not assault you, then you can't trust your unit which means that there's a divided unit," she said. 

Women now make up more than 14 percent of the active duty force, and for the military that means new challenges in creating an environment where men and women can work and live in close quarters while maintaining professionalism. 

The military has tried to combat sexual assault with public service announcements that stress awareness⁵, and training programs that call for sensitivity and an improved reporting system.

But revelations that some of those in charge of the programs have allegedly been perpetrators could undermine these efforts. Like the case of Colonel Jeffrey Krusinski, head of the Air Force sexual assault prevention and response unit, who is now charged with groping a woman near the Pentagon.  

McClendon believes it's time for deep cultural changes.  She recalls that while serving 12 years ago, it was acceptable for male soldiers to say they didn't want to work with women.  

“When that's permitted, you've got a culture that promotes sexual assaults and rape². We need to challenge that paradigm⁶. We need to have people saying we're not going to allow people to not work with women. If you don't want to work with women, you're not working in the military," she said. 

With an estimated 26,000 assault cases last year, Congress is considering tougher penalties for sexual assaults in the military.  Activists welcome those moves. 

McClendon says creating a more diverse, gender-neutral environment in the military will ultimately advance as more women enlist⁷.

1 shameful   

adj.可耻的，不道德的

参考例句：

• It is very shameful of him to show off.他向人炫耀自己，真不害臊。
• We must expose this shameful activity to the newspapers.我们一定要向报社揭露这一无耻行径。

2 rape   

n.抢夺，掠夺，强奸；vt.掠夺，抢夺，强奸

参考例句：

• The rape of the countryside had a profound ravage on them.对乡村的掠夺给他们造成严重创伤。
• He was brought to court and charged with rape.他被带到法庭并被指控犯有强奸罪。

3 raped   

v.以暴力夺取，强夺( rape的过去式和过去分词 )；强奸

参考例句：

• A young woman was brutally raped in her own home. 一名年轻女子在自己家中惨遭强暴。 来自辞典例句
• We got stick together, or we will be having our women raped. 我们得团结一致，不然我们的妻女就会遭到蹂躏。 来自辞典例句

4 defenders   

n.防御者( defender的名词复数 )；守卫者；保护者；辩护者

参考例句：

• The defenders were outnumbered and had to give in. 抵抗者寡不敌众，只能投降。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• After hard fighting,the defenders were still masters of the city. 守军经过奋战仍然控制着城市。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 awareness   

n.意识，觉悟，懂事，明智

参考例句：

• There is a general awareness that smoking is harmful.人们普遍认识到吸烟有害健康。
• Environmental awareness has increased over the years.这些年来人们的环境意识增强了。

6 paradigm   

n.例子，模范，词形变化表

参考例句：

• He had become the paradigm of the successful man. 他已经成为成功人士的典范。
• Moreover,the results of this research can be the new learning paradigm for digital design studios.除此之外，本研究的研究成果也可以为数位设计课程建立一个新的学习范例。

7 enlist   

vt.谋取(支持等)，赢得；征募；vi.入伍

参考例句：

• They come here to enlist men for the army.他们来这儿是为了召兵。
• The conference will make further efforts to enlist the support of the international community for their just struggle. 会议必将进一步动员国际社会，支持他们的正义斗争。