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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
National
Dan Sabbagh Defence and security editor

Top Gun sense of exceptionalism fuelled Red Arrows’ culture of sexism

The Red Arrows perform at the Great North Run in Newcastle
‘Occasional glimpses amid the redacted [report] reveal a culture of institutionalised sexism so ingrained that at times it was unexceptional to those involved.’ Photograph: Ian Forsyth/Getty

It was intended to be a hard-hitting review into allegations of sexism, harassment and bullying in the elite Red Arrows display team. The inquiry was concerned that the squadron was “not a safe environment” for women and said it was “highly likely” women would be subject to unlawful harassment.

The report makes a generalised list, ranging from “unwanted physical contact” to unwanted texts of a sexual nature; unsought invitations to engage in sexual activity to a broader attitude of “male sexual entitlement”. But what comes shortly after is a classic case of overzealous Ministry of Defence secrecy.

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