When Mary Claire Caine parked her car in a spot reserved for veterans, she wasn't doing anything unlawful, reported Military Times. However, when she returned back to the spot, she was greeted with a note that implied otherwise. Although Caine served from 1996 to 2000 as an avionics technician at Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico the person who wrote the note did not believe she had the credentials to park in the spot. This highlights the common assumption that women do not frequently serve their country.
By the numbers
A 2013 demographics report from the U.S. Department of Defense showed that women make up 14.6 percent (202,876) of the Department of Defense active-duty force and 18.2 percent (154,346) of the selected reserve force. Altogether, that number totals more than 350,000 women.
With this many women serving the country, it can be difficult to understand why someone would automatically dismiss the possibility that a female could be a veteran. In fact, the number of female veterans is growing, according to a 2013 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report. The large number of female veterans in the Gulf War era population shows the increasing number of women serving in the U.S. Armed Forces.
How to change the misconception
Some may be shocked to learn that the person who wrote the note was a veteran himself. Military Times published the note, which read "Maybe [you] can't read the sign you parked in front of … This space is reserved for those who fought for America … not you. Thanks, wounded vet."
Caine responded by making her story heard and turning to news sources to report on what happened that day. She hopes that shining a light on the incident opens people's eyes to the fact that veterans come in all shapes and sizes – and genders. Following the airing of one news report, Caine received notes of support explaining that she is not alone – other females reassured her that they were also subject to the sexist assumption that they had not served.
"I've [also] had some Vietnam veterans send me some positive messages, saying 'good for you for sticking up for yourself and for serving our country,'" Caine told the source.
Veterans should feel respected and safe during life after service. Spreading awareness on the different faces of veterans can help them feel more welcome and proud to have served their country.