If you are a woman who has served in the military, there is a good chance that you experienced one or more of these issues at some point during your service. Here are some common issues faced by Women Veterans.
Loneliness in Women Veterans:
Did you know that Soldier’s Heart is a real condition? When soldiers feel like they are not as connected as they should be, Soldiers sometimes go through a period of sadness or depression because of the lack of connection with those back home. This often results in them writing letters and/or calling home much more frequently than the person expecting to hear from them. This can cause frustration and anger on both sides. Because it only happens during certain times (usually when the soldier is feeling lonely), it can take time for family members back home to understand what is going on. Because women tend to be social creatures, we need our connections even more than men. Women veterans often bout with the “grass is always greener” syndrome and can feel a greater sense of loneliness because other people surround them, but no one understands what life was like for us. This makes it very difficult to make friends when you feel like everyone else has led a completely different life than you.
Not feeling attractive in Women Veterans:
It’s tough enough not to feel attractive when your body changes drastically while pregnant or even after childbirth. Still, many women in the military find themselves rather unattractive due to all of the physical demands that combat places on them (not to mention the general lack of time for personal grooming). When most civilians don’t carry 20-100 pounds on their backs, do heavy manual labor; sleep in the dirt every night; go days without a shower and change of clothes, it can be difficult to see anything attractive about yourself.
Inability to find work in Women Veterans:
It’s tough for anyone to get a job nowadays, but it is made even harder for women vets who have been out of the workforce for many years while serving our country. With up to 30% unemployment rates among female veterans, finding a career that fits you after being out of the workforce can seem impossible. Many women worry about not being able to support themselves and/or their children if they fail at finding employment in their new field, so they often stall or give up on even trying other careers once they leave the military.
In conclusion, these are just three of the many common issues that women veterans face. It is important to remember all of the challenges you faced in the military when transitioning back home; they make you who you are today and will make it much easier for you to overcome these challenges.