By Anais Rivera | Development & Communications Manager
At 3 Generations we have been recording veterans’ stories since 2011. We feel it is important to document their experiences both during their service and after it has ended. It is particularly important to relate the stories of those groups who are disenfranchised in the military as well as in society. Women have always suffered cultural bias both within and outside of the Armed Forces. They have been making strides in the military especially in the last few years. Restrictions to women being allowed to work in combat units have been lifted and more women are being given higher ranking positions. The VA considers women to be the fastest growing group of veterans. Despite this female veterans have myriad under addressed, gender-related concerns from their time in the military that follow them after discharge.
Female veterans have higher rates of depression and PTSD than civilian women. The number one cause of PTSD in female veterans is military sexual trauma as opposed to the combat-related PTSD which is suffered more in men. Even after leaving the military, as women attempt to access veteran health services, they reported being stressed by the process.87% of female veterans do not use VA services.Military sexual trauma is underreported in the military for myriad reasons but for those women that do report and later seek VA benefits for PTSD they receive less compensation and support than their male counterparts.
Female veterans also face higher rates of homelesness than male veterans do. Many of them face extra challenges when they return home such as raising children on their own and dealing with the aftereffects of military sexual trauma. Without proper support and interventions many women veterans are at greater risk for homelessness. Lack of child care was the biggest barrier for female veterans returning to the civilian workplace. Also many of the skills that women in the military learn do not translate well to the civilian workforce or are better suited to predominately male fields.
More needs to be done to overcome the challenges confronting today's women veterans and make their difficulties visible. All veterans are deserving of support after serving their country.
To learn more about veterans or any of the other issues that we document please visit our website.
By Jane Wells | Executive Director and Filmmaker
By Anais Rivera | Development & Communications Manager
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