Four Years of Sex Integration at the United States Air Force Academy: Problems and Issues

Understanding Attitudes on Gender and Training at the United States Air Force Academy

“…Integration at USAFA Gillman, and Marshak (1985) spent a year at USAFA from 1976 to 1977 in order to design and initiate a project to assess the integration process over time. Thomas, Cot6, Zande, Riding, and Elliot (1975), created the Women's Integration Research Project in order to smoothly and efficiently integrate the first class of women into the physical education program.…”

“…Durning (1978) administered surveys, which included questions on the roles of men and women in society and in the military, to USNA midshipmen in the Class of 1980 and found that contact over five months of integration had a significant effect on decreasing negative attitudes and increasing egalitarianism. At USMA, contact between male and female West Point cadets reduced male cadets' negative preconceptions of female cadets (Diamond & Kimmel, 2002 (DeFleur et al, 1985). Unfortunately, if contact is poorly arranged or the prerequisites are violated, contact between people can build upon stereotypes and prejudice (Pettigrew, 1998 Common goals.…”

“…Male and female cadets also graduate and enter the active duty Air Force with the same jobs such as fighter pilots, scientists, and engineers. Now that women in the Air Force are no longer excluded from flying fighter aircraft, which is a central task of the U.S. Air Force, they share a common fate with their male counterparts (DeFleur et al, 1985). The struggle toward common goals requires people within a group to cooperate and work together to achieve the goals.…”

“…DeFleur et al (1985) found that in a military environment, specifically at USAFA, most interaction is formally structured according to particular tasks and specific roles that depend on cooperation. In addition to uniforms, dorms, and class rank, standards for male and female cadets are the same in the academic, military, and character pillars of USAFA; however, of the four major pillars of USAFA, differences in standards are obvious in the Academy's pillar of physical fitness.…”

“…According to DeFleur et al (1985), USAFA cadets said integration was most difficult in the area of physical performance due to perceived behavior compatible with stereotypes. In early experiences with physical performance at USAFA, females…”