The Fallen Woman Archetype: Media Representations of Lynndie England, Gender, and the (Ab)uses of U.S. Female Soldiers

Abstract

In April 2004 revelations of the torture and abuse scandal at Abu Ghraib detention center in Iraq created a strategic and media crisis for the U.S. military. Media coverage focused on Private Lynndie England and framed her personal and professional behaviors via the fallen woman and warrior hero archetypes. We argue that England's media construction obfuscates military culpability for the events at Abu Ghraib, preserves patriarchal militarism, and subordinates women in the U.S. military.

Keywords:

• Lynndie England
• Abu Ghraib
• media framing
• gendered militarism
• female soldiers
• archetype