Meeting the Needs of Student Veterans Now: Women Veterans

1. Meeting the Needs of Student Veterans Now: Women Veterans Catherine Ward, B.S. Veterans Student Services, Coordinator California State University, Fullerton November 5, 2012

2. Women Veterans in Higher Education • In 2009 the VA reported, female Veterans were more likely than male Veterans to have completed some college education (43.4% vs. 31.9%) • A higher percentage of female Veterans than male Veterans had completed a Bachelor’s degree (21% vs. 16.3%) • Female Veterans were more likely to have a Bachelor’s degree than their non-Veteran counterparts (21% vs. 18.2%)

3. Women Veterans in Higher Education • They are a small population (a minority within a minority) • For example, we have 82 women veterans on our campus • 17% of the total veteran population • Currently, we are reaching 31% of our women veterans • 25 individual women • My message is: although they are a small part of the veteran population, they deserve to be recognized, acknowledged, and supported • Like any minority, their stories needs to be given a voice

4. Women Veterans in Higher Education • Overall, women veterans are still under-represented: • College campuses • Services we provide • Resources we dedicate • It is very challenging when we are talking about such a small percentage of a student body • Research • Literature • Advocacy

5. Women Veterans in Higher Education • *From Soldier to Student II • The Summary of Key Findings did not mention female student veterans • There were questions in the survey about services and space • The survey did not ask about gender specific services or space • How can we know? • It did ask about MST and counseling • No recommendations in the Conclusion (areas of improvement) • This is common – women veterans are left out of the discussion • They are included in the general student veteran discussion • We need to acknowledge women veterans do have unique circumstances, experiences, and issues on our college campuses • In order to be able to meet their needs effectively *ACE, NASPA, AASCU, NAVPA (2012)

6. Women Veterans in Higher Education • Acknowledging Women veterans on our campus • Feel marginalized - invisible • Feel like their service and sacrifice does not have the same value • Acknowledging themselves as veterans • Impacts accessing benefits and services • Self-esteem

7. Women Veterans in Higher Education Persistent Stereotypes In & out of the military • Female • Don’t belong • Token • Weak/Less than • Emotional/overly sensitive • Liability • Should be a housewife • Conniving • Threat • Angry • Feminist • Lesbian • Man – haters • Hyper-feminine • Slut/Whore • Hyper – masculine • Butch • Bitch

8. Women Veterans in Higher Education • Military Sexual Trauma (MST) • Term used to describe any sexual harassment or sexual assault that occurs in the military • VA reports 1 in 5 women have experienced MST • A recent survey performed by the California Research Bureau in 2011 found that 63.8% experienced sexual harassment and 33.5% reported an actual sexual assault • Experts report that more than ½ of all sexual assaults go unreported • PTSD is often a diagnosis that is attributed to combat veterans – it is also common for women who have been assaulted to experience similar symptoms

9. Women Veterans in Higher Education • Sexual Harassment/Assault • Anxiety • Depression • Sleeplessness and/or nightmares • Difficulty concentrating, headaches, fatigue • Anger • Shame and or guilt • Feeling powerless, helpless or out of control • Loss of confidence and self-esteem • Withdrawal and isolation • Suicidal thoughts or attempts

10. Women Veterans in Higher Education • Transition- movement, passage, or change from one position, state, stage, subject, concept, etc., to another • Adjustment- adaptation to a particular condition, position, or purpose. The act of bringing something into conformity with external requirements • Reintegration - restoration to a condition of integration or unity. To make or be made into a whole again: to reintegrate inner divisions • There is a certain bias inherent in the language we use

11. Women Veterans in Higher Education • Women veterans transition process is experienced differently than their male counterpart • Certainly, there are similarities • School – age, perspective, experience • Navigating the benefits process • Bias • This is where the general discussion on veterans issues apply • Differences • Career – Interview, job, childcare • Family – role of mother, wife • Anger – turned inward, not as socially acceptable

12. Women Veterans in Higher Education • Integration - the act of combining or adding parts to make a unified whole • Redefining identity • Combining of their military identity and who they want to be now • Providing choice • Within the context of their experience • Measured against the stereotypes • Gender role expectations • Social norms • Cultural influences • Beliefs • Values

13. Strengths • Leadership • Standard of excellence • Experience/Training • Values • Resiliency • Adaptability • Empowerment • Honor • Sense of duty, commitment

14. Recommendation Add our voice in telling their story to raise awareness Ask or do research Educate ourselves and others Advocate on your campus for services and space

15. Recommendations • Maintain a private space for women and provide a female point of contact • Provide a weekly on campus support group for women only veterans

16. Recommendations Offer a weekly support group for family members of veterans Encourage women veterans to hold leadership positions in the Student Veterans Associations Support internships for personal and professional development

17. Recommendations Host monthly community events to provide an opportunity to: Network Build relationships Explore community resources Provide student financial assistance for childcare Offer a peer mentoring program with a gender Preference option

18. Recommendations Facilitate campus workshops that highlight women veterans issues for staff, faculty, students, and the community Host: “Women in the Military History Week” events to raise campus awareness

19. Recommendations Attend conferences and hold social events to inspire connection Participate in conferences to bring awareness and education other community members and service providers about female veteran issues

20. References American Legion. Women veterans: Identifying risks, services, and prevention. Retrieved from: http://www.legion.org/documents/pdf/womensguide.pdf California Research Bureau. (2012). California’s women veterans and military sexual trauma (MST). Retrieved from: www.library.ca.gov/crb/12/12-004.pdf Department of Defense. (2008). Department of Defense FY07 report on sexual assault in the military. Retrieved from: www.defense.gov/dodcmsshare/.../328/080314-D-6570C-001.pdf Department of Veterans Affairs. (2010). Advisory committee on women veterans report 2010: Women veterans a proud tradition of service. Retrieved from: http://www.va.gov/WOMENVET/docs/ACWV_Report_2010.pdf Department of Veterans Affairs. (2010). Military sexual trauma. Retrieved from: www.mentalhealth.va.gov/msthome.asp Department of Veterans Affairs. (2011). Educational attainment of veterans. Retrieved from: http://www.va.gov/vetdata/docs/SpecialReports/education_FINAL.pdf Department of Veterans Affairs. (2011). Women veterans health care: Facts and statistics. Retrieved from: http://www.womenshealth.va.gov/WOMENSHEALTH/facts.asp

21. References Department of Veterans Affairs. (2007).Women veterans: Past, present and future. Retrieved from: http://www1.va.gov/womenvet/docs/womenvet_history.pdf Eighmey. J. (2006). Why do youth enlist?: Identification of underlying themes. Armed Forces & Society, 32(2), 307-328. doi:10.1177/0095327X05281017 Foster, L., & Vince, S. (2011). Women veterans by the numbers. California Research Bureau. Retrieved from: http://www.library.ca.gov/crb Hamrick, F. A., & Rumann, C. B. (2011). Women servicemembers and veterans returning from college and universities. Powerplay 3(2). Retrieve from: http://www.emich.edu/coe/powerplay/docs/vol_3/issue_2/03_hamrick.pdf Kleykamp, M. A. (2006). College, jobs, or the military? Enlistment during a time of war. Social Science Quarterly, 87(2). doi: 10.1111/j.1540-6237.2006.00380.x Quester, A. O., & Gilroy, C. L. (2002). Women and minorities in America’s volunteer military. Contemporary Economic Policy, 20(2), 111-121. doi: 10.1093/cep/20.2.111 Rowe, L. E., Gradus, J. L., Rineles, S. L., Batten, V. B., & Davison, E. H. (2009). Military sexual trauma in treatment seeking women veterans. Military Psychology, 21, 387-395. doi: 10.1080/089995600802565768

22. References Segal, M. W., Segal, D. R., Bachman, J. G., Freedman-Doan, P., & O’Malley, P., M. (1998). Gender and the propensity to enlist in the U.S. Military. Gender Issues/Summer, 65-87. doi: 10.1007/s12147-998-0022-0 Snetter, M. R. (2010). MST: A unique trauma experience. Los Angeles Vet Center. Thiruvengadam, M. (2011). Female veterans struggle in jobs market. Special for USA TODAY, 322, 21. Retreived from: http://www.usatoday.com/money/economy/2011-02-17-womenvets17_ST_N.htm Turchik, J. A., & Wilson, S. M. (2010). Sexual assault in the U.S. military: A review of the literature and recommendations for the future. Aggression and Violent Behavior. 15, 267-277. doi: 10.1016/j.avb.2010.01.005 U.S. Department of Labor, Women’s Bureau. (2010). CA female veterans by the numbers. Retrieved from: www.library.ca.gov/crb/09/WomenVeteransBrieflyStated.pdf Yaeger, D., Himmelfarb, N., Cammack, A., & Mintz, J. (2006). DSM-IV diagnosed posttraumatic stress disorder in women veterans with and without military sexual trauma. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 21, S65-69. doi: 10.1111/j.1525-1497.2006.00377.x http://www.northwestern.edu/womenscenter/issues-information/sexual-harassment/effects-sexual-harassment.html