Low status for women in the defence forces

"Bullying and degrading attitudes are common," says Steder, who has researched the yearly intake of candidates in the defence forces for the past years. The project was started because the Norwegian Defence wanted to increase the recruitment of female applicants, but has revealed a male-focused culture where few women feel at home.

The debate started up earlier this week, when female soldier Alice Asplund told media that she had been ordered to bathe naked during a military exercise together with 30 male soldiers while her officer was watching. The exercise took place near Bodø in September. According to Asplund, she had insisted on wearing her underwear, then suggested to go and bathe somewhere else. Both suggestions were denied by the officer.

"When I joined the Norwegian Armed Forces, I never envisioned that anything like this could happen," says Asplund, who has decided to resign from her position with the force.

Head of the Norwegian Forces, Harald Sunde, described the incident as "completely unacceptable" in a statement delivered by his spokesperson. The forces also eventually issued a public apology on to Aspelund.

Through his research on the subject, Steder has found that women have the lowest status of soldiers in the Norwegian Forces. "If you are big and strong and are able to walk far and carry heavy things, then you are accepted as one of the boys, Steder points out. "Most of the girls, however, will not accept to be treated that way, and quit."

(NRK)

Julie Ryland