How my opinion of Women Veterans Day changed

Should women be recognized for their military service on a separate day from male veterans?

I think this is the question many people ask when thinking about whether a day like Women Veterans Day, or Women Veterans Recognition Day, is needed. But, it’s the wrong question. Instead we should ask: are women treated the same way as their male counterparts for contributions to our country? If the answer is no, then we need to change that. We can disagree on how to impact change, but the reality is women are not given the same recognition as their male peers.

Challenges for women veterans

Because women are not equally recognized for serving, they can face many challenges including being questioned about that military service. Yes, it does happen, which I learned from personal experience.

I once had someone explain to me the difference between a veteran and a military spouse because they were appalled that a military spouse would consider themselves a veteran. But I have both identities: I am a former airman and now my husband is in the Space Force.

Because women are not commonly identified as veterans, they miss out on benefits and services they have earned. For example, a guest on my Women of the Military podcast was jailed and only after she left the criminal justice system did she find out there were specific benefits for veterans who were incarcerated. She was never asked if she served and never received those benefits.

Women face the highest rate of suicide, homelessness, post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and sexual assault as veterans. Women are also the fastest growing group in the veteran population but still struggle to get access to basic care. While the VA has recognized this and worked to make changes, there is still more to be done.

Initial reaction to Women Veterans Day

To be honest, when I first learned about Women Veterans Day, it rubbed me the wrong way. We already have Veterans Day to thank veterans for their service. But over the years I have learned to value a completely separate recognition day.

Women Veterans Day is celebrated in 13 states on June 12. The date was chosen to mark the anniversary of the 1948 Women’s Armed Services Integration Act signing, when women could formally serve in the U.S. military outside of wartime. There had been exceptions made for the career field of nursing and secretaries but the Women Armed Service Integration Act allowed women to be in additional specialties. There were limits on how many women could serve and limitations on ranks, but it was a change in history that was important. Today, women can serve in every role in the U.S. military and that is something to be celebrated.

Overlooked history of women veterans

Even as someone who has went deep into the rabbit hole of military women through my work on the Women of the Military podcast, I am still learning about the vital contributions made by service women. Our history is not highlighted the same as that of our male counterparts.

The history and politics of even the Women Armed Services Integration Act are not even discussed. While doing research for this article I learned the opposition and controversy around women continuing to serve in the military almost prevented them from active duty. Leaders advocated for women to only serve in a reserve capacity. That one choice would have changed the history and future of women today.

But most people do not know that history. They don’t realize how hard it was and still is to open doors for women. And how remarkable women kept pushing forward, doing amazing things, and changing not only their future but the future of the next generation of military women.

The evolution of women in the military

When I deployed to Afghanistan, I deployed with an Army infantry unit. At the time, I did not know women were prevented infantry roles. There were of course not any women in the unit I was attached to, but that wasn’t uncommon in the military and I did not think a lot about it. It wasn’t until I returned home when talk began about lifting combat exclusion that I learned the complexities of being attached to that unit.

Even though it wasn’t until 2015 that the doors to all career fields were open to women, I had never been told I couldn’t do something because I was a woman. It still is surprising to me because it was not something anyone talked about while I was deployed in 2010. I was a civil engineer assigned to do a job, and my gender didn’t matter. It was commendable that my role was a non-issue.

Because of combat exclusion, there is also a misunderstanding about the role women played in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. Combat exclusion wasn’t lifted until 2015 long after women had been blurring the front lines.

Celebrating women veterans?

Maybe there is truth in the fact that recognition days are only celebrated by those who are aware of the accomplishments of those being highlighted. Even if that is the case, I have used this day to help inspire new ways of reaching out and sharing the stories of women in the military. And for that, I am grateful there is a day specifically calling out women who have served.

Do we need a Women Veterans Recognition Day? Maybe not, but I’m choosing to celebrate with women across the country and highlight the amazing stories of women who have served, with the hope that one day all veterans will be recognized for their service.