Women Veterans in America: Breaking Barriers, Facing Challenges

As of 2025, more than 2 million women veterans live in the United States—a number that continues to grow as women make up a larger percentage of the Armed Forces. Representing approximately 10% of the total veteran population, women veterans are trailblazers, leaders, and public servants who often face unique challenges both during and after military service.

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Fast Facts & Key Statistics

• Demographics:

  
  

  • Women comprise 17% of active-duty personnel and about 21% of new VA enrollees.

  • Women veterans are more racially and ethnically diverse than male veterans.

  • The fastest-growing group of veterans are post-9/11 women veterans.

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• Health & Mental Health:

  
  

  • Women veterans are more likely than male veterans to experience PTSD, often related to combat and military sexual trauma (MST).

  • VA data shows that 1 in 3 women veterans report MST, though many incidents go unreported.

  • The VA has expanded gender-specific care, but access gaps still exist, especially in rural areas.

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• Homelessness & Economic Stability:

  
  

  • Women veterans are twice as likely as non-veteran women to experience homelessness.

  • Risk factors include unemployment, lack of childcare, trauma, and gender-based violence.

  • Many women veterans are single mothers, further increasing vulnerability.

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• Education & Employment:

  
  

  • Women veterans are more likely to have a college degree than their male counterparts.

  • Despite higher educational attainment, they often earn less and face challenges translating military experience to civilian jobs.

  • Entrepreneurship is rising: thousands of women veterans have launched successful businesses, supported by SBA programs and nonprofits.

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• Benefits Access:

  
  

  • Women veterans historically underutilize VA benefits due to lack of awareness or mistrust.

  • Efforts are underway to close this gap, including targeted outreach, legal aid, and trauma-informed services.

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Policy & Advocacy Progress

In recent years, Congress and the VA have taken steps to address systemic issues, including:

• Expanding women’s health services at VA facilities

• Funding specialized housing programs for homeless women veterans

• Improving MST reporting and prevention protocols

• Supporting caregivers and single mothers through wraparound services

But significant disparities remain—especially for women of color, LGBTQ+ veterans, and those with disabilities or service-connected injuries.

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The Path Forward

To truly support women veterans, we must:

• Ensure equitable access to all veteran services

• Fund programs that address intersections of trauma, caregiving, and economic insecurity

• Train VA staff in gender-competent care

• Empower women veterans as leaders, advocates, and mentors in their communities

🎗️ Final Thought

Women veterans have served with distinction, strength, and sacrifice. Now it’s time for the nation to fully serve them back.

📢 Learn more about our advocacy for justice and disability reform at

🔗 www.covenantofcourage.com

📝 Sign the petition: https://chng.it/5yXYvkBtMR

📬 Contact: support@reasonableranks.org