Military service is reported as a positive experience for many women veterans.
Veterans in general can face military-specific challenges such as the consequences of combat exposure or difficulties transitioning from military to civilian life. These challenges may be heightened for women veterans.
Women have served during periods of legal and societal change. Despite these changes over time, the military remains a male-dominated environment. Across generations, some women veterans report a range of additional gender-specific challenges during their military service.
Before 1990, women faced compulsory discharge from the UK Armed Forces should they have become pregnant. Until 2000, service personnel identifying as or suspected of being lesbian, gay, bisexual or other sexual orientation faced discharge from service under the so-called ‘gay ban’. This disproportionately impacted women. Many faced bullying, harassment, investigation or imprisonment. Some veterans report that their pensions and the awarding of military honours were also impacted.
Research shows that some UK women veterans report that sexist assumptions were made about them, felt they had to be better and work harder to achieve the same recognition as men, and were disadvantaged during their military careers due to being a woman. Some of those who served during times when women were members of separate branches have also reported that they often found themselves the only woman working in a particular unit or location, and were isolated and cut off from others. Uniforms and equipment such as body armour, as well as regulations governing military service have also historically been designed around men.
(SOURCES: Graham et al., 2022; Female Veterans Transformation Programme, 2024; Defence Select Committee: Atherton Report, 2021; LGBT Veterans Independent Review, 2023; Baumann et al., 2022; Biscoe et al., 2023; Campbell et al., 2023)
