Life as a Woman in the British Army

TW: sexual assault, rape, suicide

This week on the podcast, Em and Alex are joined by Gemma Morgan. When Gemma joined the Army, she discovered very quickly how she had to behave as a woman to get by: prove your strength by pushing yourself harder than you ever thought possible, but ensure you act small enough so you don't step on the toes of your male counterparts. This balancing act proved near impossible under the weight of oppressive misogyny deeply entrenched within the structure of the British Armed Forces, where razors were supplied for men to shape their facial hair while sanitary products for her and others that needed them weren't even a consideration. Gemma's Army career didn't go to plan, with trauma, abuse and PTSD all featuring in her story. She explains how she went from outstanding soldier to suffering a near-fatal mental health crisis, and why she is now demanding change. Gemma found help and hope, and wants to show others that they can too.

If you have been affected by any topics in this episode, or you want to talk to someone, you can call the Samaritans free, anytime, at 116 123

If you are a member of the Armed Forces community and you need help, you can call Help For Heroes weekdays 9-5 on 0300 303 9888 you can also submit a form anytime at https://www.helpforheroes.org.uk/application/

You can buy Gemma's book, Pink Camouflage, here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pink-Camouflage-soldiers-resilience-leadership/dp/1804251232

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Email us at shouldideletethatpod@gmail.com

Edited by Daisy Grant

Music by Alex Andrew

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