TEDx Tysons: Marine Corps equality needs to start in bootcamp: Unleashing the 51%

In 2017, Kate gave a TEDx talk on her experiences confronting gender bias in the recruiting and training of female Marines.

Watch the full video here.

Kate was the commanding officer of the only all female unit in the Department of Defense when she faced gender bias head on. In this talk, Kate explains how segregation at bootcamp lays the foundation for sexism in the Marine Corps, to the detriment of men and women. Called too tough for the Marine Corps, Lieutenant Colonel Kate Germano made headlines in June 2015 when she took a stand and confronted systemic problems of gender bias and lowered expectations for women. She fought back and became a national figure by speaking out against discrimination and advocating for higher expectations for women in the military. A 20-year career Marine and combat veteran, Kate has written extensively on the cultural challenges faced by service women, the change to official policy that opened all military jobs and units to women, and the need to de-segregate Marine Corps recruit training. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx