Most Female Vets Feel Service Isn't Valued, Survey Finds

Date Posted: Monday, November 14, 2016

A recent survey of 1000 enlisted and officer women veterans and servicewomen from 49 states was conducted by the Service Women's Action Network (SWAN) advocacy group. Article author Hope Hodge Seck noted: "Nearly three-quarters of respondents, 74 percent, said they believe their service isn't publicly recognized. They said they most wanted the public to know more about their leadership and contributions, their stories and experience, and the challenges they face. About two-thirds, or 68 percent, of respondents said the military was responsible for building this awareness, while more than half, or 57 percent, said they wanted veteran service organizations to tell their story. Among other dramatic findings was that 71 percent of those surveyed didn't belong to a veteran service organization, a possible symptom of a perceived disconnect between the male-focused community they offer and the needs of female veterans. One-third of survey respondents said that they actually didn't feel welcome in existing veteran service organizations, and more than half, 51 percent, said they hadn't been informed about membership opportunities for these organizations. But nearly all of those surveyed, or 97 percent, said they would welcome the opportunity to participate in an organization focused specifically on the issues facing female troops and women veterans. The survey also highlighted a broad perception among women who have served that the media and pop culture often got their story wrong." Judy Patterson, SWAN's CEO, said: "SWAN will be sharing the full data from this survey with a number of other veterans groups, and will be tailoring our efforts moving forward to ensure that the voices of all of these women are heard and heeded."

Read the full article at: Military.com