Back to Search
Start Over
"A Woman in A Man's World": A Pilot Qualitative Study of Challenges Faced by Women Veterans During and After Deployment.
- Source :
-
Journal of trauma & dissociation : the official journal of the International Society for the Study of Dissociation (ISSD) [J Trauma Dissociation] 2021 Mar-Apr; Vol. 22 (2), pp. 202-219. Date of Electronic Publication: 2021 Jan 20. - Publication Year :
- 2021
-
Abstract
- Women Veterans face gender-specific challenges to military life and post-deployment readjustment, including gender-based discrimination and military sexual trauma. Despite recent military initiatives to address these issues, women still experience unique challenges during military service. This study examines spontaneous comments about gender-specific challenges to military life that were made by participants in a qualitative study of women's transitions to civilian life after deployment to Iraq or Afghanistan.<br />Methods: Women Veterans who were enrolled at a New England VA hospital and who had deployed to the U.S. conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan participated in this qualitative study (N = 22). Interview queries and initial coding structure were developed through an extensive literature review. An iterative coding process generated additional themes identified in the data. For this project, codes regarding self-initiated reports of gender-specific challenges that fell outside the scope of the study's initial interview agenda were reviewed for thematic analysis.<br />Results: The following three self-initiated themes emerged among 12 respondents: 1) gender-based scrutiny and discrimination; 2) the military's inadequate position and response to military sexual trauma; and 3) disadvantages to women service members living in a male-dominated environment. Across all three themes emerged a sub-theme in which women perceived their unique needs to be inconvenient and/or disregarded. Respondents described how these challenges disrupted their lives during and after military service.<br />Conclusion: Results imply gender-specific challenges and military sexual trauma remain critical concerns for women Veterans well after deployment had ended, and that improved policy may have long-term health implications.
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1529-9740
- Volume :
- 22
- Issue :
- 2
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Journal of trauma & dissociation : the official journal of the International Society for the Study of Dissociation (ISSD)
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 33470907
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1080/15299732.2020.1869068