Gender-specific care, fertility health, and family planning in the military health system : a case study exploring the barriers that impact retention of the female Navy Nurse Corps officer.

Women serving in the United States military face a variety of unique challenges during their military service. Some of these challenges include sexism, gender inequality, and double standards. This qualitative case study provides an intimate understanding of the specific challenges that servicewomen experience while navigating reproductive health, family planning or prevention, and role conflict and explains how these barriers impact retention within the military. I focused on a group of female Navy Nurse Corps Officers and I designed the research questions to understand how these gender-specific barriers impact the female Navy Nurse Corps Officer's willingness to continue military service. The study population consisted of four active-duty female officers serving within the Navy Nurse Corps in a variety of roles across different geographical regions. I performed a qualitative case study to learn about the impact of gender role ideology on female service member's cognitive, emotional, and behavioral decisions to continue military service. I wanted to offer participants a platform to tell their stories without fear of reprisal or reprimand. To perform this study, I collected data through three methods: a survey, a focus group, and individual semi-structured interviews. Through these data collection methods and research analysis, this qualitative case study developed new strategies to support the gender-specific and family planning experiences of female Navy Nurses and ultimately retain talent within the force. The study revealed that although the military services have embraced some more inclusive approaches to women in the military, much work remains to align these efforts throughout healthcare and family planning. Perceived gender-based discrimination, stereotypes, and even sexual harassment shapes the female service member's healthcare experience and creates barriers to treatment. Family and personal life conflict, gender-specific health care challenges, and lack of career path flexibility were themes that echoed throughout the participants' stories, highlighting an urgent need for reform.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ed.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Doctoral

Grantor

Baylor University.

Year dc:date.issued

2023

Author dc:creator

• Bradshaw, Rachel A., 1984-

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Shanks, Neil.

• Female military service members.
• Gender specific healthcare.
• Role conflict.
• Reproductive health barriers.
• Family planning.
• Infertility.

Statement dc:rights

• Baylor University works are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. Contact libraryquestions@baylor.edu for inquiries about permission.

Language dc:language.iso

en

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/2104/12771

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:baylor-ir.tdl.org:2104/12771