Who Are the Female Volunteers in Maritime Search and Rescue and Why Do they Volunteer? A Cross-Sectional Survey of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution

Women volunteer more than men, yet it remains segregated by gender, with female volunteers underrepresented in maritime search and rescue (SAR) particularly in leadership roles. A cross-sectional online survey of 209 females volunteering in operational SAR with the Royal National Lifeboat Institution sought to understand their characteristics, motivations and improvement strategies. There was a lack of diversity with most white, highly educated, working full-time and in the top half of the index of multiple deprivation. Only half had previous maritime experience, most were crew and few held leadership positions. Respondents were motivated by giving back to the community, increasing self-esteem. Volunteers benefitted from role modeling although wanted equally demanding operational roles as men. Respondents demanded more women in SAR and female friendly equipment. Three internally coherent volunteer profiles emerged: civic; maritime; skills/career. While changes were ongoing, challenges relating to gender discrimination remained. Women reshape gendered security spaces through high-risk volunteering.