This is Still Sexual Assault: The Marine Nude Photo Scandal

On Tuesday, I saw a report on The Today Show about nude pictures of female Marines being posted on a Facebook page, where some of those photos were taken and posted without the individuals consent and/or knowledge. Unfortunately, this is not the first time incidents like this have occurred within our nation's military organizations. In addition, its not unusual to find that the majority of society does not know that these incidents are actually a form of sexual assault. Those individuals that did not consent to their photographs being posted have now become victims of a predator that they may not have known they had.

When someone says the phrase "sexual assault," most often the general public associates the term with the physical crime of rape. Sexual assault can also occur when someone, often an intimate partner, commits a non-consensual, non-aggressive act against a target. Taking nude photos of someone without their consent and/or knowledge is also a form of sexual assault. That little part about not consenting tends to make it that way, but predators like to talk themselves into believing that because they did not cause physical harm to their victims, that a crime of sexual violence did not occur. No harm, no foul, right? Not exactly chief...

This type of crime will still leave the victim feeling violated, embarrassed, and probably guilty because we all in some way blame ourselves for being victimized. These victims, however, will have a wonderful little added bonus of public ridicule and judgment for "not protecting their privacy better" or some such nonsense. There have been reports of various men posting "pro-rape" and other derogatory comments aimed at the women who were victimized. The worst part, however, will no doubt be the low degree of consequences the perpetrator(s) will face, if any at all will be prosecuted. Most likely the military court system will institute a "charge" of sexual misconduct and a "punishment" of re-assignment. Ultimately these women will be re-victimized by a government they swore to protect. Now, does that seem fair to you?