Date
7-22-2025
Department
School of Behavioral Sciences
Degree
Doctor of Education in Community Care and Counseling (EdD)
Chair
Michael Howard
Keywords
Female veterans, support systems, healthcare, mental healthcare, post-military service, identity
Disciplines
Counseling
Recommended Citation
Smith, Natasha D., "Unseen Warriors: A Phenomenological Study of Female Veterans' Post Military Experiences in Central Texas" (2025). Doctoral Dissertations and Projects. 7220.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/7220
Abstract
The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe female veterans' post-military experiences in Central Texas. Female veterans faced challenges post military service, including reintegrating into society, seeking resources through veteran and community programs, maintaining overall well-being, building relationships, and establishing their identities as veterans. Although programs and services were implemented to address barriers such as the lack of gender-specific healthcare, difficulties navigating community support systems, limited information about resources, and persistent social stigmas continued to exist. The goal of this phenomenological study was to understand female veterans’ lived experiences by using Alfred Schuetz’s Homecoming theory and Nancy Schlossberg’s Transition model. The Homecoming theory was used to further explore a female veteran’s expectations and realities beyond military life. It was key to this study due to uncovering systemic challenges and personal struggles that might have otherwise gone unnoticed post military service. The Schlossberg’s transition model was used to place emphasis on the importance of successful transitions for female veterans. It provided a structured way to analyze how female veterans experience changes in their post-military lives. Both theories presented were used to examine further the lived experiences of female veterans who have served in some capacity of the U.S. Armed Forces. To gain further insights into this phenomenological study, a web-based questionnaire was administered to individuals that would most likely participate. This was followed by semi-structured interviews that explored the challenges female veterans faced post military service, focusing on their perspectives and the strategies they used to navigate those challenges.
