A Review of Danish Literature on Women in PME and Auto-Ethnographic Reflections on Dynamics Influencing Research Output in the Field

Abstract

This article set out to review existing Danish literature on women's representation in Professional Military Education (PME), particularly at the officer level. However, very little peer-reviewed research exists in this area—an absence that prompted deeper inquiry. Combining literature review of existing research on gender and the military in Denmark with auto-ethnographic reflection, the article explores cultural and institutional explanations for this research gap. It situates the Danish context within broader Scandinavian trends, noting that Denmark lags behind Norway and Sweden in regards to scholarly output on gender in military settings. Drawing from the author's experience as a civilian academic in PME, the article reflects on how professional expectations, disciplinary norms, and the desire for legitimacy shape research choices—particularly for women. These reflections align with existing research on gendered dynamics in the Danish military, where for instance visibility because of being a woman is not always wanted. The article argues that understanding the absence of research is, in itself, an important step and that increased scholarly attention to gender and representation in PME is needed.