Occupational Segregation: Comparing the Civilian and Military Work Force

Abstract

This article compares the differential location of women and men across occupations in the civilian labor force to the distribution of women and men in military occupations. Findings indicate that, although the U.S. military as a whole is extremely male-intensive, the distribution of women and men in the military, across occupational categories, is more representative than the representation of women and men across civilian occupational categories. This holds true across all services and for both the enlisted force and the officer corps. Results further suggest the need for continuing to support affirmative action programs and increasing efforts to recruit women and promote them into high-level officer and noncommissioned officer grades.