Women are not only the fastest growing segment of the veteran community, they are also more than twice as likely as non-veteran women to experience homelessness.
“When I learned about the staggering and unacceptable statistics of homeless female veterans in this country, I was angered and embarrassed,” filmmaker Lysa Heslov said in the statement about her new film, Served Like a Girl.
The documentary chronicles the lives of female veterans as they harness humor to adapt to the emotional, social and economic challenges of transitioning from military to civilian life, and compete for the crown of Ms. Veteran America.
On May 16, Kansas City PBS led a screening of the documentary and panel discussion with local women veterans together in partnership with the National Archives at Kansas City and the National WWI Museum and Memorial, which hosted the event.
During the pre-screening reception, nearly 20 area female veterans who came for the screening and panel were given a sash that read “Veteran” to wear during the event.
After the film, Janet Valentine, assistant professor of military history at the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, gave a crash course on the history of women’s service in the military.
Local female veterans Emma Toops, Brooklynne Mosley and Amanda Cherry participated in the panel and shared their experiences and the challenges facing women during and after military service. Watch the discussion below.
Served Like A Girl will premiere on Independent Lens at 10 p.m. May 28 on KCPT.
Service, Sacrifice and Sashes: ‘Served Like a Girl’ Brings Female Veterans into Spotlight
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