Women hold less than 30 percent of senior positions in the U.S. Executive Branch, according to a new study by Women in International Security (WIIS), a global organization that supports women in peace and security careers.
The new WIIS study, entitled “Progress Report on Women in Peace & Security Careers: U.S. Executive Branch,” is the first ever produced on this topic.
Based on over 90 interviews, this study attempts to fill the information gap on women in international security at the federal level. The report reveals that there is no shortage of women who want to pursue a career in government, but there are gaps in leadership training, formal mentoring programs, and support for workplace flexibility.
According to the research, effective leadership and management are critical factors in women’s retention and advancement. The study reveals that women often are not getting the support they need to take on and succeed in leadership positions.
Although gender discrimination is no longer as pervasive of a problem as it once was, and progress has been made in the number of women who have risen to senior level positions, there remains a lack of female representation in decision-making levels.
According to women who were interviewed, institutional cultures are shifting, but women continue to face unique challenges in establishing credibility, in identifying and cultivating relationships with influential mentors, in obtaining needed training to build strong leadership skills, and in managing home and work life.
The study highlights key findings gathered from statistical data and conversations with women with experience in relevant government agencies. The findings show that many women remain acutely aware of their minority status in specific areas of international security, which increases the pressure to establish credibility.
Mentors play a vital role in furthering the advancement of successful women, yet formal mentoring opportunities are still missing in many federal offices. Women identified leadership training as essential, yet they perceive that this need remains undervalued and unsupported. Women continue to struggle with work-life balance, making trade-offs between professional and personal lives on a daily basis.
Often, these considerations result in women turning down career advancement opportunities. Women pointed to both structural deficiencies and work cultures as influencing their ability to balance their career and family roles. Support from government leaders – specifically the willingness to prioritize women’s advancement and address women’s professional and work-life balance needs – made a significant difference in how women in this study viewed work satisfaction and career opportunities.
This report is part of the WIIS Leadership Series, which documents women’s participation in various sectors of international security.
