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The Obstacles Women Face in Gaining Access to Special Operations Forces

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Developments and Advances in Defense and Security

Part of the book series: Smart Innovation, Systems and Technologies ((SIST,volume 152))

Abstract

The aim of this article is to provide exploratory insights regarding women integration in the special operations forces. The methodological approach is qualitative and employs a case study research in the Portuguese Army. It includes multiple sources of data collection for corroboration purposes, namely semi-structured interviews, direct observation and official documents. Although it has been considered a hot-topic in the Portuguese armed forces, and as the Portuguese Republic establishes the legal means to integrate women in all professional areas, reality shows that up to the present days no women have been part of the special operations forces. In light with the above, we evidence some obstacles that women are facing in gaining access to the Portuguese special operations forces, and we present Portugal in comparative perspective with two successful case studies.

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Acknowledgements

This project was started under the sponsorship of Erasmus+ programme, which allowed students from different European countries to cooperate. We would like to thank the Portuguese and Polish Army, for their outstanding contribution. Lastly, but not least, we would also like to thank the participation of the anonymous respondents, which greatly contributed to the production of the final results.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Military Science, Military Academy, GOVCOPP, Lisbon, Portugal

    João Reis

  2. Department of Military Science, Military Academy, Lisbon, Portugal

    Rafael Gonçalves

  3. Department of Management and Leadership, CINAMIL, Lisbon, Portugal

    Sofia Menezes

  4. Tadeusz Kościuszko Land Forces Military University, Polish Land Forces Military University, Wrocław, Poland

    Manuela Kaczynska

Authors
  1. João Reis
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  2. Rafael Gonçalves
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  3. Sofia Menezes
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  4. Manuela Kaczynska
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to João Reis .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Engenharia Informática, Universidade de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal

    Álvaro Rocha

  2. Military Engineering Institute, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

    Robson Pacheco Pereira

Appendix

Appendix

Interview protocol—SOF Personnel/Military Women

  1. 1.

    Introduction

    • Explain the purpose of the interview

    • Explain the reasons for tape recording

    • Mention the length of the interview

    • Discuss the confidentiality purpose.

  2. 2.

    Generic information

    • What is your current professional activity?

    • For how long did you work (have you been working) at the Special Operations Forces? (this question is not applied to women)

    • For how long have you been working to the Portuguese Army?

    • Age?

  3. 3.

    Generic questions

    • What do you think about the integration of women in the Special Operations Forces?

    • If you agree to it, in what branches? Why that branch?

    • Should women perform tactical/combat operations?

    • If not, why?

      1. 3.1.

        Specific questions

        • Do you know any international model of integration of women in the special operations forces?

        • If so, can you give some examples?

        • Which model do you consider the most appropriate and why?

        • As you know, there are no women in the Portuguese special operations. In your opinion what is the reason?

        • What can be done, so that the integration of women in this type of forces would be successful?

        • In your opinion, what is the greatest contribution that women can bring to the special operations forces?

  4. 4.

    Closing comments

    • Is there anything to add which remained unsaid?

    • Are you available to revise the transcription of the interview?

    • Thank you for your participation in the interview.

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Reis, J., Gonçalves, R., Menezes, S., Kaczynska, M. (2020). The Obstacles Women Face in Gaining Access to Special Operations Forces. In: Rocha, Á., Pereira, R. (eds) Developments and Advances in Defense and Security. Smart Innovation, Systems and Technologies, vol 152. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-9155-2_23

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