Representation of

Women in the United

States Marine Corps

A guide by Karina Nilson

Presentation Outline:
Title
Outline
Women Marine Statistics
Why Marines Leave
Thesis
Benefits
Setbacks
Progress
Women in Combat Roles
Women in Combat Roles
Women in Combat Roles
Addressing the issues
Addressing the issues
Closing
References
References (Continued)
Women Marines
The United States Marine Corps has the fewest
women of all the military branches. Women
Marines make up about 8% of the entirety of the
Corps.
1.Women in Leadership
Even fewer women Marines are in leadership
positions. 5% of Female Marine are careerists.
According to the Government Accountability
Office (GOA), women choose to leave due to the
following:

➔ Family Planning

➔ Sexual Assault
10.7% of Female Marines have experienced
Sexual Assault (2008)

➔ Dependent Care
Thesis: How can
the United States
Marines retain
more female
leadership?
Marine Corps Recruiting: “Battle Up”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yotXRoLxFdY
The Marine Corps needs more women in leadership.
An advantage the Marines gains from recruiting and retaining female leadership is the
simple fact that women tend to be more communicative and personal with relationships
(Hartzel and Dixon). This allows women to become closer to their junior Marines and in
turn positively influence the quality of Marines.

Women have proven to be an asset when it comes to foreign affairs. Female Marines are
able to make contact with women in other countries who are not allowed to speak to men
outside of their family and spouse. This helps the military maintain relationships in foreign
countries.

Women who enter the Military have grit. Studies show they undergo more stress and
symptoms than men. Some suggest that this is due to added drive in pursuit of a non-
traditional career path. (Morgan)
 Question:
Could recruiting more
women be a solution
to the USMC’s
challenging sexual
assault/harassment
numbers?

Image Source: Task and Purpose

A negative effect of being in a male-dominated field is that female marines are often
the only woman in an work space. Study’s show women who are the ‘only’s’ experience
“more everyday discrimination or microaggressions like being subjected to demeaning
comments. They are also twice as likely to be sexually harassed. They also are
significantly more likely to leave their job.” (McKinsey & Company)
Progress…
➔ 2016: Women allowed to enter combat roles
Opening these to women also opens up higher leadership positions (IE: Commandant).
Time is necessary for women to integrate at higher levels of leadership in these jobs.

➔ Commandant David Berger wants to diversify the USMC to include

females
“You have to perform, you've got to carry the load. You have to be able to do
the job. So they are not going to be any handouts” - Commandant David
Berger (Kenny)

➔ 2017: Marine Corps recruiting launched initiative to recruit a more

diverse population
USMC marketing campaign includes commercial highlighting a female lead, “Battle
Up”. Updated USMC verbage to be more inclusive. As well as making direct contact
with female prospects (Snow).
2016: Combat Arms MOS opens to women
Combat roles are more physically demanding and passing the school-level training is a
challenge for many women. The USMC is obviously adamant about maintaining quality of
combat roles as the Commandant says ‘there will be no handouts’. Very few have passed the
strenuous training programs for these MOS. Women who have passed the schooling will
need the grit they earned to continue on when they further integrate into their unit’s.
Despite the integration efforts, there is still a stigma that surrounds female marines - women
who continue on will need to be mentally and physically tough in order to make a career in
the Marines.
Women in combat officer roles as of 2018 (Snow)
Women in combat enlisted roles as of 2018 (Snow)
 Addressing the
Main Reasons:
Family Planning: The Marine Corps current
maternity leave policy allows the mother to take up
to 12 weeks off. Commandant Berger wants to
implement a year long maternity leave policy as he
considers it among his "most important matters for
immediate execution." (Harkins)

➔ This decision could help USMC

retain female Marines.

➔ Berger would implement this plan

Image Source: Military.com for adoptive parents along with
same sex parents.
Addressing the
Main Reasons:
➔ USMC SAPR training has implemented
Sexual Assault: Sexual assualt reports in the Marine
Corps are up by 20% as of 2019 (Snow). The Marine
even more representatives within units
Corps has a long standing program called Sexual ➔ USMC has worked hard to erase the
Assault Prevention and Response (SAPR). This
stigma of reporting with victim protection
program encourages people to reach out if they have
seen someone being harassed or assaulted as well as ➔ Increase in report indicates that marines
protecting the victims.
have more faith in the program and the
Initiatives to improve reporting and prevention USMC (Snow).
include “creating rank specific leadership training
➔ Better victim Support
through various phases of a Marine’s career; and
overhauling SAPR victims advocate training to focus
on victim support skills.” (Snow)
Closing
Military lifestyles require a lot of sacrifice, determination, and grit if you want to have a long successful career.
Military service is a choice and you have to be ok with spending extended amounts of time away from your
family and friends. Leadership in the Marine Corps can see the value that women bring to the military. Leaders
are making progressive changes where they can in order to better support the many roles women take on. The
Marines made a huge decision in allowing women to join combat arms jobs. The Marines are the most elite
fighting force of all military branches. They want to uphold this reputation as they slowly make changes to
diversify the institution. If a woman is able to qualify and pass tests for the job - there shouldn’t be a question
of her capabilities. Women in leadership within such an elite institution may take more time and changes to
outdated policies. In closing I would state that the women who serve in leadership positions are simply put
‘badass’ as they have gone through the ‘thick of it’ in facing adversity, against traditions, they have shattered
statistics, and have still risen to the top. Women Marines who are able to gain rank and authority are forces to
be reckoned with. Women Marines are fewer and far between but this should be a testament of the quality of
leadership they have earned through their career.
References:
Hartzell, Allyson C., and Marlene A. Dixon. “A
Holistic Perspective on Women’s Career Pathways
in Athletics Administration.” Journal of Sport
Management, vol. 33, no. 2, 2019, pp. 79–92.,
doi:10.1123/jsm.2018-0127.
Office, U.S. Government Accountability. “Female
Active-Duty Personnel: Guidance and Plans
Needed for Recruitment and Retention Efforts.”
U.S. Government Accountability Office (U.S. GAO),
19 May 2020, www.gao.gov/products/GAO-20-61.
Morgan, Matthew J. “Women in a Man's World:
Gender Differences in Leadership at the Military
Academy.” Journal of Applied Social Psychology,
vol. 34, no. 12, 2004, pp. 2482–2502.,
doi:10.1111/j.1559-1816.2004.tb01988.x.
CAITLIN M. KENNEY | STARS AND STRIPES
Published: July 24, 2020. “Gen. Berger: Marine Corps
Looking to Make the Force More Diverse.” Stars and
Stripes, 24 July 2020, www.stripes.com/news/us/gen-
berger-marine-corps-looking-to-make-the-force-more-
diverse-1.638767.
McKinsey & Company. “Women Are Doing Their Part.
Now Companies Need to Do Their Part, Too.” Women
in the Workplace Study, Close-Up Media, Inc., Oct.
2018, womenintheworkplace.com/2018.
Snow, Shawn. “Where Are the Female Marines?”
Marine Corps Times, Marine Corps Times, 10 Mar.
2018,
www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2018/03/05/where-
are-the-female-marines/.
References (Cont.):
Snow, Shawn. “Sexual Assault Reports across the
Corps up 20 Percent.” Marine Corps Times, Marine
Corps Times, 2 May 2019,
www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/your-marine-
corps/2019/05/02/sexual-assault-reports-across-
the-corps-up-20-percent/.