The Gendered Work of War: How the US Military Used Women to Fight in Iraq and Afghanistan
| Published date | 01 September 2023 |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1177/20419058231198581 |
| Author | Jennifer Greenburg |
| Date | 01 September 2023 |
22POLITICAL INSIGHT•SEPTEMBER 2023
‘Edith’ was born and raised in New
York City. As a young Latina
woman with limited economic
opportunity, she joined the
army, primarily to gain access to the GI Bill,
which pays for a university education after
completing military service. Edith (all names
are pseudonyms) was deployed to Iraq in
her early 20s, in 2003. Technically an army
supply clerk, she was actually enlisted onto
one of the rst ‘Lioness’ teams. These all-
female teams were attached to male combat
units. Their goal was to allow the US army to
enter spaces men could not, mainly those
inhabited by women and families. But they
had a larger goal, too: to help the invading
forces win ‘the battle for hearts and minds’.
Edith’s experiences in Iraq were brutal. She
was attached to all-male combat units that
became embroiled in dangerous reghts
The Gendered Work of
War: How the US Military
Used Women to Fight in
Iraq and Afghanistan
Despite official US military policy, all-female teams were often on
the frontline of the post-9/11 wars. Such examples have been hailed
as a victory for gender equality, but the reality for women in combat
is very different, writes Jennifer Greenburg.
on the streets of Ramadi. She would also
accompany male soldiers on house-to-
house raids or at trac control points, and
search women at checkpoints. During raids
she would try to calm women and children
while male soldiers searched for weapons,
intelligence, or people. Without formal
training in these areas, Edith managed as
best she could, but came home injured
and traumatised. The repeated violence of
night raids left her with post-traumatic stress
disorder (PTSD). She initially said nothing,
fearful of being labelled or perceived by her
command as trying to get out of the next
deployment. But when she retired from the
military after eight years, she sought help
© US Army Photo / Alamy Stock Photo
Political Insight September 2023.indd 22Political Insight September 2023.indd 2214/08/2023 12:2414/08/2023 12:24
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