Women Vets Face More Challenges

All this month, Townsquare Media's community outreach arm, Townsquare Cares, is celebrating Veterans' Day by honoring our military members and their families. Today, we take a look at the additional challenges facing returning veterans who also happen to be women.

As lawmakers at every level work to improve care and conditions at the Veterans' Administration (VA), care for women veterans brings its own set of challenges. Mary Bencivenga with the American Legion Auxiliary in Toms River says part of the problem is the way we've traditionally seen a soldier.

"Right now, things that are lacking are... coming back, needing prostheses, they're still based on a man's, you know, body," Bencivenga said. "And a lot of the research is still based on men's research on the male physique."

Bencivenga says women veterans may also have to seek outside providers for certain exams and medical services not currently provided by the VA, but she says health care isn't the only issue.

"Homelessness is way up on women veterans throughout the country," Bencivenga said. "And they do not have the facilities to accommodate women and children."

Bencivenga says women veterans who need information or people who want to learn how to help should email her at mbenga@ymail.com. To help Townsquare Cares help our veterans and their families, click here.