Walking a Gender Tightrope: A Qualitative Study of Female Student Veterans’ Experiences within Military and Campus Cultures

Abstract

This article describes findings from a qualitative study of the experiences of female student veterans in the military and in college. Twelve women were interviewed from two public research universities. Findings revealed individuals “betwixt and between” the complex intersection of identities: in the military, grappling with a sense of self as soldiers and as women, and trying to figure it out; and in college, as undeserving veterans struggling with the social and cognitive dissonance experienced as students. Under implications, we discuss how the complexity of identity complicates our understanding and support of this population in college.