Future Photographs of U.S. Women in Combat

Abstract

Two grounded theory studies found that photo editors and producers were intent on publishing graphic photographs of women in combat if, and when, they are produced as women have begun to enter US Armed Forces combat units since January 2016. Editors said they aim to treat women the same as men when editing photographs of war, but showed hesitation upon seeing images of women in combat presented in this study, particularly when graphic. An individual level of influence was observed, as was concern for the audience that rivaled other social institutions within the hierarchy of influences. Interviewees in the first grounded theory study included 17 visual editors and producers of various newspaper, broadcast, and online US media companies. The second study included a different set of 20 editors/producers who participated in a think-aloud procedure showing them graphic photographs of women in combat.

KEYWORDS:

• graphic war photographs
• grounded theory
• hierarchy of influences
• online audiences
• photo editors
• photojournalism
• think-aloud
• women in combat

Notes

1. Even though combat units have been opened to women, that does not mean there will necessarily be a surge in female soldiers who sign up for combat. In Israel, even with 92 percent of military positions open to women, only 2.9 percent of Israel’s female soldiers were in combat roles by 2013. Even if more US women sign up for combat, it also does not mean that photographs of them performing combat roles would necessarily instigate change right away. The number of women in Israeli combat forces, for instance, has remained at the same lower levels, with no change in the army’s hegemonic order (Sasson-Levy 2002).