Publication year
2015
Citation Title
What is war? Female Veterans’ experiences of combat in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Journal Name
Journal of Women and Social Work
Journal Volume
30
Issue Number
4
Page Numbers
489-503
DOI
10.1177/0886109915585383
Summary
Female Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans participated in interviews regarding their experiences of combat. They defined combat in three general manners, including experiencing combat-related events, witnessing combat, and feeling threatened. Women tended to compare their combat experiences to those of others when identifying as combat Veterans.
Key Findings
Female Veterans described physical threat (e.g., being attacked by mortars or IEDs) as the most frequent type of combat exposure.
Female Veterans reported indirect exposure to war violence when deployed to a combat zone, especially surrounding the persistent threat of potential physical and sexual harm.
Several Veterans struggled with feeling unrecognized and unappreciated as combat Veterans, especially in the Veterans Affairs (VA) healthcare system.
Implications for Program Leaders
Offer workshops to help Service members manage traumatic events, including those encountered during combat and provide mental health resources
Develop peer support programs for trauma-exposed Service members to allow for the exchange of social support
Host classes for families of female Service members, educating them about possible deployment-related stressful experiences and common readjustment challenges
Implications for Policy Makers
Continue to support programs specifically for female Service members who have experienced trauma or violence
Recommend all female Service members who have experienced combat be screened for traumatic experiences
Recommend professional education for community providers that work with Service members, offering information about the effects of trauma from combat-related events
Methods
Participants were Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans who were registered with the VA healthcare system and were recruited by mailed letters.
Participants completed surveys and semi-structured interviews assessing combat exposure, post-battle exposure, and post-deployment challenges.
Statistical analyses were used to analyze the interview transcripts.
Participants
Twelve female OIF/OEF Veterans participated in the study.
Participants were female Veterans who had served in Active Duty and Reserve components of the Army, Navy, and Air Force.
Veterans’ roles in the military included finance, logistics, military police, communications, and transportation.
Information about age and racial background were not provided.
Limitations
As the sample was small, the extent to which findings generalize to other Iraq and Afghanistan female Veterans is unknown.
The sample was recruited from VA enrollment logs; it is uncertain how rates compare to those Veterans who were not enrolled.
The reliance on self-report data may have introduced reporting biases; female Veterans may have under-reported incidences of combat-related events.
Avenues for Future Research
Replicate the study and collect data from a larger, more heterogeneous sample
Examine similar issues with male OIF/OEF Veterans
Explore other variables, such as gender roles, gender identity, instances of sexual harassment or assault, and military sexual trauma
Focus
Multiple Branches
Target Population
Population Focus
Military Component
Abstract
Many female service members deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan report experiencing some level of combat. However, female veterans may perceive combat and threat differently than their male counterparts. A feminist analysis of semistructured interviews was used to examine female veterans’ (N = 12) definitions of and experiences with combat. Participants described combat in three themes—experiencing combat-related events, witnessing combat-related events, and feeling threatened. Veterans also described a flexible definition of ‘‘combat veteran,’’ comparing their experiences to others’ to determine their status. This study has implications for practice, research, and policy on veterans, including broadening the assessment of combat.
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