Project summary:
Existence by resistance: a UK case study exploring the lived experiences of ex-servicewomen navigating a man-dominated subculture in the criminal justice system and social care
Criminalised ex-servicewomen in the UK remain critically under-represented in academic literature. Little is known about their experiences in navigating ex-military culture and the criminal justice system (CJS), particularly through the lens of intersecting identities. This project is the first UK-based academic study researching the lived experiences of criminalised ex-servicewomen and is being undertaken by postgraduate researcher Hilary Currin ( HTC113@pgr.aru.ac.uk).
Currently recruiting participants who meet the following criteria:
- Meet UK definition of veteran
- Identifies as a woman (includes cis- and trans- identities, and femme identifying non-binary individuals)
- Current or previous criminal justice involvement (< 5 yrs)
Using narrative interviews and two stakeholder advisory meetings, this project inductively explores how criminalised ex-servicewomen experience the CJS through various and potentially conflicting identities, how they understand and respond to these identities within specific contexts in the life course, and how the CJS understands and responds to criminalised ex-servicewomen. In collaboration with His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS), OpNova, and community partners, this study seeks to draw upon the expertise of criminalised participants, HMPPS staff and stakeholders to create a rich and comprehensive portrayal of gendered experiences within powerful state institutions.
Hilary presented the following paper at the Veterans in Society Conference on 28 March 2026 in Chicago:
Finding equal footing in a women’s prison: a case study examining the power of ex-military identity and importance of remembrance
