“I wasn’t broken when I joined, I was when I left”: experiences of powerlessness among women veterans

Once military service is complete, personnel embark on a long metaphorical journey back to civilian life. This transition can be particularly complex for women. Armed forces across the world are currently working to make the military more inclusive for women and to support them in transition and resettlement. However, culture change in the armed forces is not just about policy, it is also about personal experience. This study recruited eight women military service leavers who are registered at a U.K. charity that provides support for women veterans who are struggling to adjust to civilian life. Interviews and focus groups were conducted and analyzed using thematic analysis. The analysis explored women’s experiences of powerlessness. Two overarching themes capture the complexity of participants’ accounts. The first theme, stress in service, highlights how limited self-governance, an endemic culture of bullying, and having nowhere to turn for emotional support converged as sources of stress and exacerbated feelings of powerlessness during participants’ time in the military. The second theme, long-term impact of military service, captures participants’ understandings of their identity transformations, their impact on employment opportunities, and their ongoing concerns regarding uninformed medical consent. The analysis shows how, rather than an inherent trait possessed by individuals, powerlessness occurs in response to adversity and that responses are differentially shaped by gendered status within the context of the military. The study highlights the need for high-quality women-centric transition services that are aimed at supporting women and that appreciate the gendered complexities of military life and beyond.