What image does the general public have of “military leaders”? How does that image match the actual racial and gender breakdown of the US armed forces? Jennifer Spindel and Robert Ralston use a conjoint survey experiment to ask members of the public to select between two candidates for promotion to the highest ranks, comparing the candidates on both military and demographic variables. They find that respondents weigh combat experience and years of service favorably, and penalize individuals based on their sexual orientation. Overall, their work suggests that the image of military leadership held by the general public is still largely white and male, painting individuals in those categories as the most authoritative and trustworthy individuals. Their work also has implications for ongoing Department of Defense efforts to diversify the top ranks of the military.
Jennifer Spindel is an assistant professor of political science at the University of New Hampshire. Her research focuses on international security, foreign policy, and civil-military relations, with a particular interest in how actors signal their intentions and beliefs. Her work has been published in the Journal of Global Security Studies, Armed Forces & Society, Environmental Communication, and Security Studies, and she has contributed commentary to The Conversation, NPR, the Washington Post, and War on the Rocks. Jennifer received her PhD from the University of Minnesota, and her dissertation won the American Political Science Association’s Kenneth Waltz Award for best dissertation in international security. She previously held fellowships at George Washington University and Dartmouth College, and received her BA in Peace and Conflict Studies from Colgate University.