Between Motherhood and the Motherland: Navigating Challenges to Rank Advancement of Women in the U.S. Army

Authors

• Valeria Suarez, Illinois Wesleyan UniversityFollow

Abstract

Female officers remain a minority in the U.S. Army. Motherhood, dependent care, and sexual assault are some of the reasons why they decide to give up on their Army careers. The following study intends to examine how the impact of policy changes to accommodate female Army officers’ increased retention and consequently promoted the rank advancement of women to the rank of major, or O4 and above. Through conversations with 14 armed forces officers, both men and women, it is evident that the gender neutral culture of the Army proves to be detrimental to women’s rank advancement. For them to be able to have both a successful career and start a family, the Army needs to implement accommodations that counteract the culture of gender neutrality, of an inherently male institution.

Recommended Citation

Suarez, Valeria (2026) "Between Motherhood and the Motherland: Navigating Challenges to Rank Advancement of Women in the U.S. Army," Res Publica - Journal of Undergraduate Research: Vol. 31
Available at: https://digitalcommons.iwu.edu/respublica/vol31/iss1/9