Lynsey Addario, US Army medevac crew transport body of fellow Marine who was killed in combat in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, December 2009
A few weeks ago, the Pentagon officially lifted the ban on women soldiers to engage in combat. Over the course of her career, the woman photojournalist Lynsey Addario has covered numerous conflicts, frequently photographing women in the military. Last spring, Addario was held in captivity along with three other New York Times photographers in Libya. Read about her reaction to the U.S. military’s milestone announcement and her experience documenting war. Many question why Addario works on documenting global conflicts, and many more question whether female soldiers should participate in active combat duty. Do you think its too dangerous for women photographers (or soldiers and journalists) to work in war zones? Do you think their gender helps or is a hindrance on the front line?
Click here for NYT Interview with Lynsey Addario.
Please share your responses with your classmates by Saturday, March 2 (in two weeks).
As a female, I believe that women should be allowed to choose whatever career a and job field they feel is appropriate for them. I don’t believe gender should be a motive for dispute on an individuals job description. There’s a lot of discrepancy on women fighting in combat, but the reality of the situation is that they are already taking part in war. Like the article states, “They’re at bases all across Afghanistan, and they’re playing different roles from black ops pilots to doing triage in forward operating medical centers. They’re engaging women in villages of Helmand that are covered with landmines. They are getting shot at. They are dying, and they are getting injuried.” So just like men, women are facing the same difficulties and challenges in combat. They fight for our country “they have a goal, and they want to accomplish it.”
Throughout history women have worked hard to have equivalence with men. Therefore I believe that no one has the right to say what women can and cannot do. I believe that any one of both sexes can achieve any carrier they want as long as they apply themselves and dedicate themselves to what is required of them. Especially in the field everyone is more then capable on the front lines. When on the frontlines I believe that gender neither helps nor burdens the missions that face the soldiers ahead. As I said before so as long as a women has the desire and dedication I believe they can achieve the same as a man on the front lines because it is not a mater of sexes it is a mater of strategy and focus. No mater what gender you are as a soldier, photographer or journalist being on the front lines is and will always be dangerous. Having jobs that require you to be out there in the action means that you are willing to pass boundaries and make an impact to obtain your mission, story or photograph. I believe that Lynsey Addario was determined and motivated because of what had previously happened to her in Libya. She wanted people to really understand and acknowledge what the front line is like for women. She has no Sargent to report to or military orders she is in charge of herself so she knows how far she is willing to go to push the boundaries to obtain her story so in a way her job is somewhat more dangerous then a soldier because she is on her own. So as long as she satisfies her intentions then I believe she is in the right place regardless of gender.