Summary - When Strength Becomes a Stereotype: Examining Superwoman Internalization in Female Veterans

The William James College Train Vets to Treat Vets Program and Department of Continuing Education are pleased to present When Strength Becomes a Stereotype: Examining Superwoman Internalization in Female Veterans as part of our ongoing CE series to provide essential training in veteran-specific issues. The series is designed to equip mental health providers with the knowledge and competence needed to serve this population effectively.

This one-hour continuing education program will examine stereotype internalization and the burden of adopting the strength-based expectations embedded in the superwoman. The program will identify the parallel between military culture and the superwoman’s standard of strength and will explain how this dynamic is complicated by the demand to appear strong in a male-dominated environment. The presentation will also examine mental and physical health outcomes associated with superwoman internalization.

Participants will receive an overview of stereotype internalization and the conceptual framework of the superwoman. The presentation will describe the superwoman internalization process and discuss how female veterans adopt associated beliefs as part of their identities.

Participants will also learn how superwoman internalization functions as a coping mechanism to combat perceptions of weakness, but how the cost of self-denial of personal needs results in decline in mental health and physical health.

Finally, the program will discuss future research of the superwoman in military populations.

Throughout the presentation, emphasis will be placed on the unique experiences of female veterans and the need for culturally competent care in the VA Healthcare System.

Dr. Keysha Rule is a Health Science Specialist at the Mid-Atlantic Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center (MIRECC) of VISN 2 at the W. G. Bill Hefner VAMC in Salisbury, NC. She is a native of Baltimore, Maryland. She enlisted in the Maryland Army National Guard in 1997 before transferring to active duty in 1999. Dr. Rule served 22 years in the United States Army before retiring in 2019 at the rank of Sergeant First Class.

Dr. Rule holds an Associate of Arts degree in General Studies from Central Texas College, a Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a minor in Military Studies from Troy University, a Master of Arts in Counseling, a Master of Arts in Psychology, and a PhD in Social Psychology from Liberty University. Her interest in military outcomes inspired her work with veterans in the VA Healthcare System. Dr. Rule’s focus areas include attitudes and biases, the psychology of women, and PTSD. She is devoted to improving outcomes for marginalized populations by highlighting the urgent need for increased cultural competence in clinical and research settings.

Dr. Rule is also passionate about community outreach, as evidenced by her support of local government and community initiatives. She currently serves on Salisbury’s Human Relations Committee of the City Council, working to help build inclusivity, foster acceptance, and promote equal opportunity. Dr. Rule is the proud mother of four beautiful children: Jaylen, Jakiera, Jamal, and Janaye Rule. She enjoys spending time with her family and supporting them in their extracurricular pursuits.