Women Veterans and Intentional Inclusivity · •2004- Col. Linda McTague, 1st woman to command a...
Transcript of Women Veterans and Intentional Inclusivity · •2004- Col. Linda McTague, 1st woman to command a...
Women Veterans and Intentional Inclusivity
Elizabeth A. Estabrooks, MSSW
Oregon Women Veterans Coordinator
AAUW Oregon State Convention
April 21, 2018
Oregon Women Veterans Coordinator
Elizabeth Estabrooks
• Masters in Social Work, Columbia University
• B.S. in Gender Studies and Political Science, Eastern
Oregon University
• Focus on women, equitable services, safety, and women
veterans in particular
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“Let the generations know that women in
uniform also guaranteed their freedom. That
our resolve was just as great as the brave men
who stood among us. And with victory our
hearts were just as full and beat just as fast -
that the tears fell just as hard - for those we
left behind."
-----Army Nurse WWII
• Who are we?
• What are our stories?
• Why are we important?
•Where are we?
The Invisible Woman Veteran
• Women have always served in both combat and
non-combat roles, but their service has been
unnoticed and lessened…
• Women have been invisible as service members
and veterans.
Yes they did
• Deborah Sampson, The American Revolution
• Sarah Emma Edmonds, Civil War
• Cathay Williams, Buffalo Soldier
• Ola Mildred Rexroat, WASP
• Eileen Collins, Space Shuttle Commander
We served because we could, when we could, where we could
Approximately 11,000 military women were deployed in Vietnam. 8 women were killed in combat. Cmdr. Elizabeth Barrett – 1st woman to hold command in a combat zone.
Vietnam War
1973 – 1986
1977/1978 – Separate but not equal lifted - WACs, WAVES, SPARS disbanded, integration into male units and co-ed training begins
(except Marines), including integrated basic training.
Numbers begin to rise.
1973 draft ended – 2% of
enlisted military were
women, 4% were officers.
By 1981 – 1986 Reagan begins dismantling Carter’s policies and setting women’s advances back. Co-ed basic training ends. Recruitment slows.
Women are there, but not officially
1998 – Female fighter
pilots fly combat
missions during 4 day
Iraqi bombing
offensive.
1991 – 1992 41,000
servicewomen
deploy. 2 women
taken POW
1991 – 1993 Congress authorizes
women to fly in combat missions
and serve on combat ships
1994 – DoD
declares
“Women
shall be
excluded
from
assignment
to units
below the
brigade level
whose
primary
mission is to
engage in
direct
combat on
the ground.”
Important markers
• 2003 – first Lioness (FETs) formed
• 2004- Col. Linda McTague, 1st woman to command a
USAF Fighter Squadron
• 2008 Army Gen. Ann Dunwoody 1st woman to achieve 4
• 2009 Lioness teams expand and become formal teams
• 2010 Navy rescinds male-only policy on submarines
The Camouflage Ceiling
• 1970 - First woman in the history of the military
to be promoted to Brigadier General
• 1996 – First woman in the history of the armed
forces to make 3 star rank
• 2008 – First woman in the history of the military
to make 4 star rank
• 2014 – First woman becomes 4 star admiral in
Navy’s 238 year history
Kristen Griest Shaye Haver First female soldiers ever to graduate from Ranger School
And still, it takes until 2016
Veterans are veterans.
What’s the so what?
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OBJECTIVE
The Invisible Woman Veteran
Data
ResearchProgram Planning
VA
Society
In a 2016 Service Women’s
Action Network survey, 74
percent of the respondents said
that the general public did not
recognize their service
Policy, benefits and services, Oh My
• Promotions
• Benefits
• Retirement
• Services
Women Veterans Vs. Vet Population
Fastest growing veteran population!
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The future is US
Baker,OR 135 Lake,OR 57
Benton,OR 530 Lane,OR 2,606
Clackamas,OR 2,550 Lincoln,OR 403
Clatsop,OR 343 Linn,OR 934
Columbia,OR 413 Malheur,OR 146
Coos,OR 610 Marion,OR 1,964
Crook,OR 144 Morrow,OR 65
Curry,OR 202 Multnomah,OR 3,510
Deschutes,OR 1,114 Polk,OR 630
Douglas,OR 1,004 Sherman,OR 10
Gilliam,OR 27 Tillamook,OR 161
Grant,OR 39 Umatilla,OR 425
Harney,OR 55 Union,OR 185
Hood River,OR 94 Wallowa,OR 60
Jackson,OR 1,662 Wasco,OR 184
Jefferson,OR 135 Washington,OR 3,029
Josephine,OR 694 Wheeler,OR 10
Klamath,OR 793 Yamhill,OR 692
OR Women Veterans by
County 2019
Total – 25,416
https://www.va.gov/vetdata/stateSummaries.asp
Women Veterans By the Numbers
• 220,000 have deployed to Iraq
• 73% had at least 1 combat experience
• 56% served during Gulf War Era (1990 to
present)
• In 2015, approximately 730,000 women enrolled
in VHA, approximately 456,000 use VHA
• Only 19% of Oregon WV enrolled in VA
What you don’t know hurts them
• Fastest growing homeless population
• Suicide rate increased by 85% from 2001 – 2014
• 1/3 have substance abuse issues but are
unidentified and untreated
• 59% of Oregon women veterans experience
some form of sexual assault, harassment or rape
while on active duty
• We aren’t men. Don’t treat us like them.
But I help all veterans
• Lack of data means lack of services
• Women veterans have unique experiences,
needs, challenges, and barriers
• Invisibility prevents you from serving them
• Gendering data, research, conversations,
program planning, and policies means serving
women veterans
Food for thought:
Intentional planning to prepare
for growing and aging population
of women veterans
Questions
Oregon Women Veterans Coordinator
Elizabeth Estabrooks, MSW
700 Summer St. NE
Salem, OR 97301
971-720-9116