A concept mapping study on gender microaggressions experienced by female service members.

Despite the quantitative growth of female personnel within the South Korean military, female members continue to experience gender microaggressions in their professional lives. This study identifies the specific patterns and conceptual structure of persistent, everyday gender microaggressions experienced by women in the military using the concept mapping method. In-depth interviews were conducted with 20 active-duty female service members to derive 100 final statements, then the statements were structured using the concept mapping methods. Gender microaggressions experienced by female personnel were structured along two dimensions: "Task/Role-Based Exclusion vs. Gendered Expectations" and "Interpersonal Attribution vs. Institutionalized Othering." Five distinct clusters were identified: (Cluster 1) Distancing Based on Benevolent Sexism, (Cluster 2) Inappropriate Conduct Arising from Gender Role Stereotypes and Sexual Objectification, (Cluster 3) Invalidation of Identity and Negative Perceptions of Work-Life Balance Policies, (Cluster 4) Marginalization Through Evaluative Bias and Double Standards, and (Cluster 5) Limitations in Job Assignment and Career Development Opportunities Due to Male-Centered Culture and Exclusion. Importance ratings indicated Clusters 1 and 3 were most significant, suggesting that female service members regard "ontological exclusion" within the military organization as a critical threat. The findings demonstrate that gender microaggressions in the military possess structural characteristics intertwined with organizational and institutional levels that go beyond interpersonal slights, providing a theoretical foundation for future military gender research. Also, since gender microaggressions hinder organizational integration for women, this study highlights the need for military policies to shift from reactive prevention of explicit incidents toward proactively addressing the underlying mechanisms and risks of microaggressions.