The Story of a Military Wife

The following story is made possible from the team behind Breaking Brainwashed.

As a soldier's wife, we were expected to live where we were told and follow every command without question. But I couldn't help feeling uneasy about the term "significant other." It seemed to diminish the sacrifices and struggles we faced as military spouses.

While the soldiers earned salaries, we were often left to do the dirty work, expected to do "fatigue duty" and pressured in meetings to conform to the military's expectations. We were even discouraged from seeking support or guidance from outside organizations.

We were expected to blindly follow orders and accept their complete authority over our lives. But this loyalty was not always reciprocated. There was a clear hierarchy of discrimination based on rank, with those at the bottom feeling the weight of oppression most heavily.

We were even forced to purchase goods, like fish and chicken, from the military, and were restricted from leaving base without permission. It felt as though we had no autonomy, no agency in our own lives.

The disciplinary committee was meant to hold all soldiers and their families accountable for their actions. But in practice, it seemed that only the wives of low-ranked officers were held to this standard. The wives of high-ranking officers were rarely, if ever, punished for their actions.

This privilege gap between high and low ranking officers was palpable, with the wives of high-ranking officers enjoying the most privileges. But for the rest of us, the wives of ordinary soldiers, we were left feeling oppressed and overlooked.

It's a sad reality, but it seems that discrimination is a constant presence in the military. For women soldiers and officers, the experiences I have described are all too familiar. So, I urge you to join the CDM and stand with the people, fighting against this injustice.