How effective are compliant mechanisms for force transmission? We explore here how their inherent elastic deformation limits, or does not, their ability to transmit forces; and analyze their elastokinematic behavior to quantify, understand, and interpret the transmission of forces. Towards quantification, mathematically tractable definitions of mechanical advantage (MA) are explored. By relating MA to the mechanism's stiffness parameters, we analyze its dependence on actuator and workpiece characteristics. By decomposing MA into components that account for cumulative and instantaneous force transmission, we examine how compliance can be effectively leveraged to achieve favorable force transmission. Furthermore, based on the reciprocity between displacement advantage and MA, we conclude that compliant mechanisms are equally capable of force transmission as they are of motion transmission. Additionally, we discuss method for visualizing force transmission using the mechanism's static eigenmode shapes. Derived results are elucidated through examples of compliant crimping and 4-bar mechanisms.