Walden University ScholarWorks Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Collection 2015 A Phenomenological Study of Female Gender Inequality in the Defense Industry Erica Helaine Woods Walden University Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations Part of the Women's Studies Commons This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Collection at ScholarWorks. It has been accepted for inclusion in Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks. For more information, please contact
[email protected]. Walden University College of Management and Technology This is to certify that the doctoral dissertation by Erica Woods has been found to be complete and satisfactory in all respects, and that any and all revisions required by the review committee have been made. Review Committee Dr. Joseph Barbeau, Committee Chairperson, Management Faculty Dr. Marcia Steinhauer, Committee Member, Management Faculty Dr. David Bouvin, University Reviewer, Management Faculty Chief Academic Officer Eric Riedel, Ph.D. Walden University 2015 Abstract A Phenomenological Study of Female Gender Inequality in the Defense Industry by Erica Helaine Woods MBA, Davenport University, 2004 BA, Michigan State University, 2002 Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Applied Management and Decision Sciences Walden University March 2015 Abstract Despite advances made during the women's movement, gender inequality is a problem for women seeking leadership opportunities within the U.S. Defense Industry today. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand the perceptions of civilian females who had experienced gender inequality obstacles in their professional advancement opportunities within the U.S.