Finnish servicewomen speak out about harassment and bullying in the army
In Finland, seven women who serve or have served as non-commissioned officers have spoken about cases of sexualized behavior, humiliation, harassment and bullying in the country’s Defence Forces. Four interviewees described inappropriate remarks, objectification and problems with the response from management, YLE News reports.
Five of those interviewed are currently serving, while two have ended their military careers. The active servicewomen asked for their names and places of service not to be disclosed because they fear becoming targets and losing career opportunities. The women also noted that the situation may vary depending on the unit and region, and that senior military personnel, according to their observations, are more likely to engage in inappropriate behavior.
Accounts of pressure and humiliation
Former servicewoman Jarna Viskari said that after being transferred to another unit, she was bullied by two male non-commissioned officers of higher rank. According to her, she was humiliated in front of conscripts, isolated from the group, threatened and insulted. Viskari approached the Defence Forces to request a preliminary investigation, but it was not launched because the situation was considered a case in which the parties’ accounts contradicted each other. She eventually left the service.
Another interviewee said that at a work party, a unit commander chose extremely revealing outfits for young women serving under contract and pressured them to wear them in front of colleagues. Another servicewoman said that after she pointed out a workplace problem to her superior, he began calling her an insulting nickname in conversations with other employees.
More current news is available on the UA.News Telegram channel Telegram.
Fear of reporting violations
One of the women said she began being excluded from the group after refusing physical contact with her superior during training. According to her, the commander tried to touch her twice, and after she refused, stopped communicating with her and began speaking disparagingly about her to others. The servicewoman did not formally pursue the matter, fearing harm to her career.
YLE’s interviewees also mentioned sexualized discussions about women, assessments of appearance and erotic calendars in offices. In their view, male colleagues rarely intervene in such situations, while complaints can result in women being labeled as troublesome employees.
The head of personnel management at the Finnish Defence Forces, Lieutenant General Rami Saari, suggested that masculine culture and difficulties in attitudes toward women, who are a minority in the organization, may be behind such cases. He noted that according to available indicators, the problem does not appear large-scale for an organization with 14,000 employees, but that the phenomenon itself is concerning. Saari also acknowledged that women do not always dare to report inappropriate behavior.
