A new report from Disabled American Veterans has found that female veterans face additional challenges when transitioning to civilian life.
According to the report, female veterans are more likely to be unemployed than male veterans or non-veteran women. They are more likely to be homeless than non-veteran women. In addition, fewer resources are available to women who need basic health care, PTSD treatment or treatment for military sexual trauma.
Nearly 300,000 women served in the Afghanistan and Iraq wars after 9/11. In 2014, women represented 14.5 percent of active duty service members and 18 percent of reserve members, rates which are expected to increase in the future. Currently, 10.3 percent of all veterans are women.
The study found that female veterans received only 6 percent of domiciliary homeless care for veterans and of grant and per diem programs. They received only 4.4 percent of healthcare support for homeless veterans.
For female veterans, even basic medical care can be a challenge. A third of all Veterans Affairs (VA) medical centers do not employ a gynecologist.
A large proportion of women in the military experience sexual trauma — up to 20 percent of women receiving VA healthcare. However, research shows that many veterans have their military sexual trauma claims denied. Meanwhile, there is a shortage of staff trained to treat this pervasive problem.
At the same time, women also suffer from issues that are common to all veterans, such as increased rates of mental health problems and systemic difficulties in receiving much-needed services.
Legal Help for Veterans, PLLC fights for veterans rights. We fight to make sure you get the benefits you deserve from the Department of Veterans Affairs. To learn more or contact a veterans lawyer, visit http://www.legalhelpforveterans.com/ or call 800.693.4800
