Children and the Military Servicewoman
Since the women’s liberation movement of the 1970s, women are mostly freed from the social pressure to stay at home and raise children rather than pursuing a career. While this has meant great strides for the progress of women in all areas of society, it has its own counterpart—women who now find themselves maintaining both a career and this previous role of family caretaker. Women veterans and those actively serving are no exception, and may find themselves experiencing the unique stress of these difficult-to-balance roles.
Breaking and Reforming the Bonds
Deployed military women must undergo the experience of saying goodbye to their children and their spouse for extended periods of time. In families where the mother is the primary caretaker of the children, this can be especially difficult. In studies of Operation Desert Storm, women serving who had children reported higher rates of emotional problems and mental illness. They also experienced a greater decrease in quality of life after deployment than males or women serving without children. The children of these moms in service also showed higher levels of emotional disturbance during her absence.
Upon returning from serving, women can find themselves without the same support network that male soldiers rely on. While men returning from service may have wives to help them readjust to civilian life, women returning may find that they must immediately become responsible for the family once again.
Child Care
Identifying appropriate and accessible child care is a major obstacle for many women serving in the military. Upon returning to civilian life, many women find it necessary to employ child care so that they can seek employment or return to their education. Other women may find that they do not have enough space to decompress from difficult or traumatic military experiences, and that they need childcare in order to seek medical attention or get the treatment they need. Such interim care may not be readily accessible for many women, or it may simply be unaffordable.
Domestic Abuse
While research on domestic violence among veterans is limited, it is known that families with a member in the military experience it at higher rates than the general population. Along with the risk of sexual assault, women in the military are also at risk of physical altercations with both other service members and their spouses. Women veterans may be fearful to report the attack due to a lack of support from other veterans and being isolated in their community. Women who have experienced domestic abuse may seek help through VA mental health services.
More Information and Resources
Sources:
California’s Women Veterans. (2009) California Research Bureau