Any other "female" vets struggle with this?
It's been nearly a decade since I got out but it feels like I'll never escape the sexism of the military. I have a good life now and the only time I am made to feel like a stupid woman who has no idea what she's talking about is when I mention my time in the military. It's not every time, but often enough that I hesitate to tell anyone I was in the military. Not sure if men experience this or not, but so often if I bring up my military experience, the following things might happen
- I'm told that bc I had to do less push-ups, I was actually a spoiled princess who had an easy time in the military (something that civilians love to say)
- Im just downright wrong, my memories are wrong, I'm lying, I'm "spreading misinformation", I clearly didn't "listen to the briefings" (usually from other vets who assume their experiences were universal and nobody else had any other experience in the military)
- Told I'm just lying about being in the military, I'm actually spreading woke propaganda to make the military look bad
These are often responses to me discussing the medical issues I experienced in the military. I hesitate to mention them here bc I feel like one of the above things will happen. I'm not smack talking the military, just telling my honest experience. It wasn't a good one. I was subjected to a number of unnecessary surgeries that nearly ended up in losing my foot and caused life long chronic pain.
Then there is the usual dirty looks or comments when I park in the Lowes veteran parking spot, often from dudes in their Vietnam hats. And a general feeling that maybe I was in the military, but it wasn't the real military experience bc I had it so easy as a woman so I don't belong in real veteran spaces.
Do any other vets who are women experience this? Are you even in this sub?