Chatter: The Secret History of Women at the CIA with Liza Mundy
Oct 19, 2023
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Journalist Liza Mundy discusses the hidden history of women at the CIA, focusing on their role in intelligence gathering and the hunt for Osama bin Laden. She explores the challenges faced by women in a male-dominated industry, the persistence of chauvinism within the agency, and the turning point for women at the CIA post-9/11. Mundy reflects on her previous book about American women code breakers during WWII and highlights the advancements and struggles faced by women at the CIA.
Women at the CIA played crucial roles in codebreaking during World War II and their contributions have been historically underrecognized.
Women faced gender biases and institutional resistance in pursuing careers in intelligence, with certain fields being designated as more suitable for women.
Young women joining the CIA in the 1980s and 1990s faced institutional resistance, gender dynamics, and challenges in being heard within the bureaucracy.
Advancements have been made in promoting gender equity within the CIA, with more women in leadership positions and efforts to accommodate working parents.
Deep dives
The History of Women at the CIA
This podcast episode explores the history of women at the CIA, highlighting their significant contributions to the field of intelligence. Women played crucial roles in codebreaking during World War II, and their recruitment continued into the OSS, the precursor to the CIA. The podcast discusses how women exploited the covert advantage of being underestimated in the field, effectively running exfiltration networks and gathering intelligence. It also delves into the transition from OSS to CIA and the challenges women faced in pursuing careers in intelligence, such as being discouraged from having families. The podcast highlights the distinction between case officers and reports officers, with reports officers often being overlooked and marginalized. The episode also touches on the pivotal role that women at the CIA played in the hunt for Osama bin Laden, and how their contributions were underestimated and underrecognized.
Challenges and Stereotypes Faced by Women in Intelligence
This segment of the podcast focuses on the challenges and stereotypes faced by women in the intelligence community. It sheds light on the chauvinism and elitism within the CIA, particularly among case officers who looked down on reports officers, many of whom were women. The episode highlights the gender biases that persisted, such as the belief that women couldn't recruit or close deals effectively. It also explores the institutional resistance that women encountered in their careers, with certain fields being designated as more suitable for women, often resulting in slower progression and limited opportunities for advancement. The podcast emphasizes the importance of understanding the historical barriers and biases that women had to overcome in the intelligence community.
Cohort of Young Women in the CIA Post-9/11
This part of the podcast focuses on a cohort of young women who joined the CIA in the 1980s and 1990s, particularly during the pre-9/11 and post-9/11 period. These women, recruited primarily into the analytic core, brought their academic achievements and enthusiasm to the agency, aiming to contribute to national security. However, they faced institutional resistance and found themselves in niche analytic roles, often working alongside men who were less supportive. The episode highlights the challenges and gender dynamics these young women encountered, including instances of sexual harassment and inappropriate behavior. It also addresses their pivotal role in looking at Osama bin Laden and al-Qaeda before 9/11, warning about the growing threat and their struggle to be heard within the CIA's bureaucracy.
The Evolution of Women's Roles in the CIA
This segment examines the evolution of women's roles in the CIA over time. It discusses how the agency's hiring practices changed in response to social shifts, including the efforts to recruit more women and promote gender equity. The episode explores the advancements made by women within the CIA, from initially being relegated to clerk and reports officer positions to breaking barriers and becoming case officers and senior managers. It highlights the achievements of women like Gina Haspel, the first female director of the CIA, and acknowledges the ongoing progress and challenges towards achieving gender equality within the intelligence community.
Pioneering Women in Intelligence Analysis
The podcast episode discusses the experiences of Cindy Store and Jennifer Matthews, two pioneering women in intelligence analysis. Cindy Store was trained in aerial imagery analysis and became adept at identifying missile installations and other important phenomena. She learned how to communicate and persuade all-source analysts using image analysis. Jennifer Matthews, starting as an imagery analyst, joined a small unit known as Alex Station, which focused on tracking Bin Laden. They developed a new kind of intelligence gathering, relying on open sources and analyzing communications between individuals. Unfortunately, Matthews died tragically in an explosion while pursuing operations against Al Qaeda.
Challenges and Innovations for Women in the CIA
Women like Cindy Store and Jennifer Matthews faced various challenges within the male-dominated CIA. They confronted gender biases and skepticism about their contributions, but their tenacity and expertise allowed them to excel. The podcast highlights advancements in diversity at the CIA, with more women now in leadership positions. It also emphasizes the importance of accommodating working parents within the agency, allowing individuals to balance family life and crucial intelligence work. Furthermore, it explores the intersectionality of challenges faced by women, including the need for support from male colleagues and the perception of particular topics as "niche" or less important.
The Hunt for Bin Laden and Female Targeters
The podcast delves into the critical role played by female targeters in the hunt for Bin Laden. These targeters, often working as part of a small unit, developed innovative approaches to mine data and identify high-value targets. They had to overcome institutional resistance and biases to make their case for the importance of their work. The podcast also sheds light on the tragic sacrifice of intelligence professionals like Jennifer Matthews, who lost their lives while pursuing threats. It underscores the dedication and expertise of these women, who were instrumental in shaping the CIA's efforts to combat terrorism.
Journalist Liza Mundy’s new history of the world’s most storied spy service focuses on the women of the CIA, who for decades worked in jobs that men found less glamorous or career enhancing, and that proved vital to the interests of U.S. national security. The Sisterhood covers practically the entire history of the agency, from its pre-World War II days as the Office of Strategic Services, through the Cold War and the 9/11 attacks, followed by the successful hunt for Osama bin Laden.
Shane Harris spoke with Mundy about why she decided to write about the women of the CIA and what that story reveals about the hidden history of the agency. Mundy’s previous book, Code Girls, was about American women who worked as code breakers during WWII.
