Slashing Stereotypes

image : Myles Grant/ Flickr

I can't tell you how many Facebook posts I have seen over the years that say something to the effect of, "Thank you to all of our brave servicemen who fight for our freedoms." While it is great that the public opinion of service members has done a complete 180 since the Vietnam War, we still see the neglect of recognition for the women who fight as well. 

To be completely honest, women are not appreciated by their comrades either. Sexual assault numbers are and have always been high and are not always handled appropriately by the chain of command. Women are more likely to leave the service before retirement, and it is important to talk about this. 

This is especially alarming when looking at the demographics of women in the service. Women make up the greatest representation of minorities.  As more women continue to leave the military early, the military loses a huge portion of its minorities as well. 

When I look at the picture above, I wonder about who the woman could be. She could easily be a veteran cherishing a hug from her child, though this assumption would be one that most people would not make. 

It is important to realize that women serve, too. They are mothers, daughters, sisters, and wives who sacrifice time with their families in order to protect our country, too. Recognizing their sacrifices and realizing the poor treatment they may endure while serving may help change it. 

How many female veterans do you know?