Women in the Military

[erpowers]

Watching ABC Nightly News I began to think that the issue of women in the military is one that is stoked by the media. There were three women who died in this last incident and the media is making a big deal about it. I am not trying to down play or make light of the fact that these soldiers died. However, I believe that more soldiers have died in other events. In addition, of the 1700+ soldier that have died in Iraq only 39 have been women. It seems to me that the media continues to make this an issue and not the people. It seems to me that this would not be an issue if the media did not make it one.

[Ripley]

1. Why are so many of you so hostile to this report.

It is a fact that this is the highest number of women soldiers killed at one time. That is what is significant as well as the fact that women are not "allowed" in combat operations.... yet here 4 of them were killed by enemies in a combat situation.

I think the media should cover all soldiers deaths every day in detail and respect they deserve. But what is up with this semi-hostility that the media is talking about dead women soldiers?

And it is an issue. A lot of Americans seem to think the women in uniform are somehow not in a war zone. And if this makes them think twice about how bad shit is going down over there, then good.

[jody]

2. I agree!

:thumbsup:

[erpowers]

3. My Problem

My problem with the reporting is that it seems that the media is not doing the reporting to inform, but to make people angry at women. There were only three women who died in this event. My problem is that some people will say that we are losing in Iraq because there are women there. People are not angry that the media is reporting this story people are angry at how the media is reporting the story. The media could be pointing out that a few days ago a general reported that Marines in this very area do not have the proper equipment to fight the war. The media could be asking if the female soldier who was a reserve member and on her third tour in Iraq had the proper body armor. I think the media could be doing a better job of reporting this story instead of trying to make it issue.

[Ripley]

4. Well, I haven't watched TV report this, but I think you are wrong.

I don't think people will blame the female soldiers. By the way it is four dead (maybe two more who are "missing") and 11 of the 13 wounded were female. That is possibly 17 female casualties at one time in Iraq. I think that will ring a bell in the heads of some more Americans who support this war... and hopefully get them to research more war news online and evaluate why they support this cluster.

Yes, the media should be doing at least, at the damn least as much coverage of the soldiers deaths as the missing young woman or MJ's trial. But we get what we get.

I asked about the hostility, because I saw quite a few DU posts yesterday where they were outraged the news covered these women more than the couple of men killed the day before. It sounded odd to me.