Boards
this female soldier who died in Afghanistan
does anyone find the coverage of this a little bit unsettling?
Obviously, a person dying is bad, and a British serviceperson dying is newsworthy (without getting into the whole "why is their death covered when the thousands of foreign deaths are brushed under the carpet" argument). But why has this "brought home" the issue of Afghanistan? She was the first woman to die, yes, but how is her death different from the other 4 men who died (and all the rest)? Everyone from Radio 1 to Radio 4 is giving us the in depth insights into her life, the interviews with her family, the "what is it all coming to" furrowed brows. And it strikes me as more than a little distasteful
Is this where sexual politics is right now? Women can join the army equally and fight equally (to a point - they are still a minority of course), but in death they are unequal? Or is it just a bit more media bandwagon jumping?