Abstract
In the wake of the proposal for the new defense agreement, the debate regarding conscription for
women has resurfaced. A majority in the Danish Parliament supports the introduction of
conscription for women but also emphasizes the need for a cultural change within the Danish
Defense to retain female personnel. This study proposes that a phenomenon such as
overperformance affects the motivation and therefore retention of female personnel.
The aim of this study is to examine how female cadets from the Royal Danish Military
Academy experience to overperform compared to their male colleagues, how it affects their
motivation and lastly how a platoon leader can address perceived overperformance. The study
will focus on overperformance as a phenomenon, which affects the female cadets and their
motivation. The study is based on an examination of qualitative interviews with four female
cadets from the Royal Danish Military Academy. The analysis of the interviews is divided into
three parts according to the problem statement: the experience of overperformance, how
overperformance affects motivation and the platoon leader in relation to overperformance and
motivation. The study will aim to be of practical relevance by producing guidelines for the platoon
leader to address the experience of overperformance.
The study shows that all of the female cadets have experienced overperforming as a
response to performance pressure. Experiences of overperformance are characterized by a sense
of lacking competence in certain domains but especially the physical domain. It is essential for
motivation that activities related to performance are meaningful to the individual. If the female
cadets experience to overperform because of injustice or to avoid feelings of shame, guilt or
discomfort, it affects the motivation negatively. It is therefore crucial that a platoon leader is
aware of the portrayal of performance and expectations.
The study concludes that female cadets experience overperformance as an imbalance
between themselves and their male colleagues. It affects their motivation negatively if the
experience provokes feelings of discomfort and injustice, or opposes their primary motivation.
The platoon leader must recognize the individual’s development in order to address the
experience of overperformance.