THE INTERSECTIONS OF GENDER AND POWER IN WOMEN VETERANS' EXPERIENCES OF SUBSTANCE USE AND VA CARE

In: Annals of anthropological practice: a publication of the National Association for the Practice of Anthropology, Band 37, Heft 2, S. 149-171

Abstract

In this article, we show that the Veterans Health Administration (VA), similar to military organizations, is a gendered organization where women Veterans' experiences are embedded in and shaped by gender inequalities and structures of power. Based on an in‐depth analysis of women Veterans' substance use histories and VA treatment seeking experiences, we illustrate how gender power dynamics are (re)produced and maintained through everyday social interactions and organizational practices and processes that render women Veterans both visible and invisible: visible as sexual objects and invisible as suffering subjects. By retelling the illness and treatment experiences of women Veterans with trauma histories and co‐occurring substance use and mental health disorders—a highly stigmatized population of Veterans—we highlight the importance of giving voice to their concerns when developing policies and programs to address the unique health care needs of women Veterans.