Navigating labor market barriers: A policy analysis of unemployment and underemployment among post-9/11 military spouses
Abstract:This dissertation explores the intersection of military spouse unemployment and public policy through an anthropological lens, with a focus on the post-9/11 era. Military spouses, often positioned at the margins of labor market stability due to frequent relocations and the demands of military life, face disproportionately high unemployment and underemployment rates. This research investigates how public policy—federal, state, and institutional—responds to these challenges and how military spouses navigate these systems. Drawing on ethnographic methods, including in-depth interviews, participant observation, and policy analysis, this study situates military spouse employment in broader debates about militarism, gender, and socioeconomic inequality in the United States. The research begins with a comprehensive literature review, charting the sociohistorical development of the U.S. military, including the experiences of immigrant service members, gender dynamics, and the anthropological foundations of studying militarism and policy. It is grounded in the anthropology of policy, which offers a critical framework for understanding how policies are not only instruments of governance but also cultural texts that shape and are shaped by the lived experiences of those they claim to serve. It also explores the definitional and cultural complexities surrounding the term “military spouse.” The second chapter outlines the mixed-methods research design, emphasizing a critical ethnographic approach to understanding both the lived experiences of spouses and the mechanisms of public policy. Key public policies—such as professional license portability, job-protected leave, and executive orders—are examined alongside partnerships like the Military Spouse Employment Partnership and career support pilot programs. Chapter 3 investigates employment barriers including relocation-related disruptions, childcare constraints, and systemic underemployment. Chapter 4 presents military spouses’ firsthand accounts, highlighting employment instability, financial insecurity, and suggestions for reform. The final chapters offer a policy-engaged ethnographic analysis, reflecting on the transition from military to veteran spouse, and assess how legislation—like California assembly bills—shapes long-term career outcomes. By integrating anthropological inquiry with public policy analysis, this dissertation contributes to a deeper understanding of military family life and calls for more responsive, inclusive, and equitable policy solutions for military spouses.