Exploring The Difficulties Women Veterans Face When Transitioning To Civilian Life
Location
Guzman 104, Dominican University of California
Start Date
4-17-2019 4:20 PM
Student Type
Undergraduate
Faculty Mentor(s)
John Duvall, PhD
Presentation Format
Oral Presentation
Abstract/Description
Abstract
Up until 2013, the Secretary of Defense mandated that women service members could not apply or participate in combat positions within the United States Military. Although they weren’t officially in combat oriented Military Occupational Statuses (MOS), they still experienced the realities of war. When females integrate both into and out of the military, they face a different set of challenges that are often ignored and dismissed because of a lack of focus on gender. This paper explores the different and unique challenges women veterans face medically and socially when transitioning out of the military, such as dealing with Military Sexual Trauma (MST) or experiencing Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) from conflicts such as Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF). It examines why the military’s claim to be “gender neutral" has been more harmful for transitioning female veterans and further delves into how a woman veteran’s identity is one of the factors as to why transitioning can be more difficult and misunderstood when trying to provide resources for them. Gender should be applied to research and communication when approaching solutions for this often invisible group because until women veterans specifically are made a focus, they will continue to be marginalized and slip through the cracks.
Keywords: female veterans, identity, United States, veteran identity, society, military
Exploring The Difficulties Women Veterans Face When Transitioning To Civilian Life
Guzman 104, Dominican University of California
Abstract
Up until 2013, the Secretary of Defense mandated that women service members could not apply or participate in combat positions within the United States Military. Although they weren’t officially in combat oriented Military Occupational Statuses (MOS), they still experienced the realities of war. When females integrate both into and out of the military, they face a different set of challenges that are often ignored and dismissed because of a lack of focus on gender. This paper explores the different and unique challenges women veterans face medically and socially when transitioning out of the military, such as dealing with Military Sexual Trauma (MST) or experiencing Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) from conflicts such as Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF). It examines why the military’s claim to be “gender neutral" has been more harmful for transitioning female veterans and further delves into how a woman veteran’s identity is one of the factors as to why transitioning can be more difficult and misunderstood when trying to provide resources for them. Gender should be applied to research and communication when approaching solutions for this often invisible group because until women veterans specifically are made a focus, they will continue to be marginalized and slip through the cracks.
Keywords: female veterans, identity, United States, veteran identity, society, military