| Women in diplomacy have received attention from historians and scholars of international relations and political science, yet the characteristics and personal stories of women ambassadors1960-1989 are still largely neglected. The movement of women into critical, senior-level roles in the U.S. Foreign Service (FS) accelerated by 1960, and more than half of the 20th century women appointments were made to countries with significant Muslim populations. These women adapted to Muslim-influenced societies, developed relationships with key foreign statesmen, and navigated gender bias. To understand who these women were, how gender discrimination impacted their FS careers, and how they shaped conditions for future FS women, this research explores the ambassadors’ professional backgrounds and their oral history narratives. This work contributes to women’s history in the FS by describing how women at a critical period of advancement navigated adverse policies and attitudes as their own beliefs about women and gender evolved. Key Words: ambassadors, diplomacy, Foreign Service, gender, oral histories, women |