FEMALE INTEGRATION IN THE MILITARY PROFESSION: PROSPECTS AND LIMITATIONS

Abstract

The article presents the analysis of military and professional status of women, prospects and limitations in achieving gender equality in the Armed forces of the Russian Federation. The author makes a conclusion about partial gender integration according to the criteria of military rank, military specializations and education. The gender structure of the Russian army is characterized by a significant imbalance with a predominance of men in prestigious military ranks. The current situation of gender imbalance in the military profession is due to a set of factors. Most females perform support jobs in the military that are not associated with combat risks, personnel management or increased risk to life and health. Higher and secondary vocational military education is available to a minimum number of women, which makes it difficult to have equal opportunities for interaction and professional development. The achievement of gender equality in the military socio-professional environment is hampered not only by socio-cultural stereotypes, but also by a set of anatomical and physiological characteristics of women, as well as a number of other factors: the right to realize the social role of the mother, the lack of a clear gender policy of selection, training and order of military service by women, legal barriers, gender incompetence of military personnel and the unformed feminist movement for women’s rights. Gender stereotypes and negative social attitudes towards female soldiers act as an additional restriction on their integration into the military profession. The prospects for the expansion of gender equality are unclear due to the lack of conceptual documents and programs aimed at achieving a balance in the Armed forces of the Russian Federation and the formation of a neutral gender regime for military units and organizations.