Military Leadership and International Peacekeeping: An Examination of the Experiences of Female Officers Through a Bourdieusian Framework

ABSTRACT This article provides insights into how Bourdieu's social theory can be used to explore the complex experiences of female military officers. It has been over 20 years since feminist scholars first extended Bourdieu's framework to include gender, arguing that women are often denied access to valued capital in organizations due to the gendered nature of the field and habitus. As women are increasingly integrated into modern military organizations, extant qualitative research focusing on experiences in United Nations peacekeeping deployments is underrepresented in the literature. This research draws on 17 in depth interviews with mid‐ranking female Irish officers. The findings indicate that early in their careers, military women narrate concerns around recognition, seeking to minimize their visibility, and conform to expectations of the “ideal” officer inculcated within a masculine habitus. As they mature into their roles, these women increasingly emphasize the value of female and feminine capital to underpin the importance of their contribution and the legitimacy of their leadership practice. However, due to the persistently gendered nature of the field, the value attached to this capital is precarious and insufficient to force a reworking of the ideal. Structural values and norms encountered in cadet education, and organizational practices combine to create an enduring legacy reinforced on overseas deployments.