Exploring the Underrepresentation of Women of Color in Top Senior Enlisted Roles in the U.S. Navy: A Qualitative Phenomenological Study
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Authors
Allen, Dee
Issue Date
2025-11
Type
Dissertation
Language
en
Keywords
Business, Engineering, Science, & Technological Innovation , Women of Color , Military Leadership , Underrepresentation of Women of Color
Alternative Title
Abstract
The problem addressed in this study was the persistent underrepresentation of WoC, specifically African American, Hispanic, Asian American, and Native American servicemembers, in the U.S. Navy's senior enlisted roles, which undermined the Navy's efforts to achieve full diversity and inclusion (Bridges et al., 2023b; Coleman et al., 2019). The purpose of this qualitative phenomenology study was to explore the perceptions and lived experiences of WoC, specifically African American, Hispanic, Asian American, and Native American servicemembers, in the top enlisted roles in the U.S. Navy. This qualitative study examined how race, gender, and organizational structures simultaneously affected advancement opportunities within military hierarchical systems through an intersectionality theoretical framework. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 retired E8 and E9 women of color (WoC) from the U.S. Navy, with data collection focused on participants' experiences navigating advancement processes, organizational culture, and leadership challenges analyzed through thematic analysis to identify patterns and meanings within participant narratives. Findings indicated participants encountered distinctive barriers from intersectional biases, including limited mentorship opportunities, exclusion from informal networks, and inconsistent evaluation criteria. Navy policies often failed to address unique challenges faced by WoC, creating disparate impacts on advancement trajectories. Participants reported cultural code-switching demands, questioning of their authority, and isolation within traditional masculine organizational environments. This research contributed evidence-based insights into structural inequities affecting WoC in senior enlisted roles and offered recommendations for policy reforms, targeted mentorship programs, and organizational culture interventions to dismantle systemic barriers. Based on this analysis and recommendation, future researchers should explore comparisons with other military branches, investigate longitudinal career progression patterns, and evaluate diversity initiative effectiveness in creating sustainable leadership pathways for WoC.