| Description |
1 online resource (streaming video file) (28 min. 27 sec.) ; 172135764 bytes |
| Summary |
When the young women of the Norwegian Border Guard turn in after a long day patrolling along a stretch of their nation's northern border with Russia, chances are there will be men in the room. They're the fellow soldiers they've been working with, training with and sometimes ordering around in the field. Despite the seamless sleeping arrangements, the conflicting habits of males and females, it all seems to work. Harassment and sexual assault, already comparatively low in Norway's armed forces, is on the wane."It started because the mission is on the border so we do have to live in tents and small cabins. There is nothing special about it anymore so the tension between the sexes isn't there any more." - Maj. Michael Rozmara, Chief of staff, Norwegian Border Guard.Led by a formidable front-line of women, including Prime Minister Erna Solberg and her predominantly female cabinet which includes defence Minister Ine Eriksen, Norway is leading the charge to an inclusive, cohesive unisex defence force. They want the armed services to become as progressive and gender-blind as the top echelons of government."We would like to choose from the most motivated men and women, because we think that we cannot afford in a modern Armed Forces to not use the competencies that both genders have." - Ine Eriksen, Norwegian Defence MinisterAs technology and sophisticated communications strategies change the way military campaign are conducted, Norway has concluded that women inherently possess skills and qualities that are vital to the defence program. But in order for military leaders to bolster female numbers they need to ensure women feel safe among their male colleagues and that they have a clear path to succeed in the service.Colonel Ingrid Gjerde is a one woman who's become a compelling role model. She rose to command all of Norway's forces in Afghanistan."Leadership is all about building healthy cultures, and to build healthy cultures you have to respect every single person, man and woman. And then there is a zero tolerance for harassment." - Colonel Ingrid Gjerde, Military Academy and Officer Candidate School, NorwayFollowing a spate of sexual and harassment scandals in the Australian Defence Force, a concerted campaign is underway to change culture and combat the problem. Australia's Sex Discrimination Commissioner is heavily involved in that effort and she's watching the program in Norway closely."It is quite a radical approach. In many militaries around the world it is about just pouring women in and just stir and we know that won't lead to greater capability, what it is about changing the structures and practices so both men and women can thrive. I think the way the Norwegians are heading and it is very interesting to watch what is happening." - Lis Broderick, Australian Sex Discrimination CommissionerForeign Correspondent's Eric Campbell travels to the remote and breath-takingly beautiful Arctic corner of Norway to examine the gender experiment first hand |
| Event |
Broadcast 2014-08-05 at 20:00:00 |
| Notes |
Classification: NC |
| Subject |
Draft.
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Sex discrimination in employment.
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Women -- Crimes against.
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Women soldiers -- Psychology.
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Norway -- Finnmark fylke.
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| Form |
Streaming video
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| Author |
Campbell, Eric, host
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Broderick, Elizabeth, contributor
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Gjerde, Ingrid, contributor
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Lode, Ingunn, contributor
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Rozmara, Michael, contributor
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Soreide, Ine Eriksen, contributor
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