BIO

I'm a second year Psychology student from Tampa Bay, Florida. I'm currently on the Pre-Law track, and I eventually want to work in the FBI with an interest in white-collar crimes. I have research interests in the psychology field, and specifically in how racism and sexism affects the psychology of those impacted by those elements. This is why I'm currently working on "Ungentlemanly Warfare: Historical Research on Women Spies of the Special Operations Executive," as I can do historical research from a psychological perspective.

Ungentlemanly Warfare: Historical Research on Women Spies of the Special Operations Executive

Abstract

The Special Operations Executive was founded during the Second World War. This organization's main mission was espionage and irregular warfare. The roles and contributions of the SOE are often attributed towards men, with men receiving the majority of the awards post WWII. However, through research and data that has been collected, it has been discovered that the role of women in the SOE is overlooked and undervalued. Many of these women faced substantial hardships, including being prisoners in concentration camps, and their names and stories should be recognized at the same level as their male counterparts. This study uses literature analysis, historical record analysis, and transcriptions in order to bring to light the experiences and contributions of these women that are so often repressed. The data collected from text is coded and focuses on the use of gendered language throughout the literature studied. Transcriptions included oral interviews detailing first-hand experiences in the Special Operations Executive. The focus of this study was to collect this data, but also give credit and a name to the women who were involved in the SOE. Preliminary results found that the involvement of women was consistently understated, if women were mentioned at all. By examining past historical records for this study, further efforts can be made to combat sexism and prejudice in the modern workplace and social environment. This information will also be used to expand our understanding of the past, which enables better analysis of the present.

Keywords: espionage, gender, SOE