Female Leaders in Combat Arms Units: Understanding Role Congruity Theory and Effects on United States Army Senior Leader

A large disparity exists between the number of men and women leaders in senior combat arms positions in the United States Army, possibly leading to a lack of transparency in the promotion process for soldiers. A combination of barriers may be the possible cause of this problem, leading to a reluctance of senior leaders to promote women in combat arms units in the United States Army. Eagly and Karau's approach that prejudices form against women as less favorable leaders than men is beneficial in addressing the issues of the low promotion rate of women in leadership roles in combat arms units. In this qualitative applied phenomenological study, 10 former soldiers in the United States military were selected to participate in one-on-one interviews to explore lived combat-related and deployment experiences. The knowledge gained from this study renews attention in the advancement of women in combat arms units, possibly causing senior leaders to uncover the barriers that prevent them from promoting women in positions previously dominated by men. The results of this study could be valuable for giving attention as to why there is a large disparity between men and women in leadership positions. Data organization followed Moustakas' modified van Kaam method to better understand the combination of barriers that women encounter when seeking promotions in United States combat arms units. This study is of relevance as it provided an effective method to counteract these barriers, potentially reducing the existing disparity between men and women combat arms leaders, addressed the assimilation of women leaders in combat arms units, and provided an improvement in the promotion process for women. In conclusion, findings of this study provide a deeper understanding of the lived experience of senior leaders about the promotion process of women in combat arms units.