Should women journalists be sent out to cover conflicts?

Women journalists should be sent out to cover conflicts as long as they are willing to risk life and limb to expose human injustice under the most tragic circumstances and proper steps can be taken to ensure their safety.

Threats and violence against women journalists are on the rise in many regions of the world. In their work exposing injustices and bearing witness to human rights violations, women journalists are human rights defenders and as such are in need of better security and protection mechanisms. Threats, murder, confiscation of material, deportation, arrests and intimidation are a couple of threats that both male and female journalists face in hostile, corrupt and violent environments and in war zones. Female journalists, however, face certain gendered risks in such situations.

Maggie O'Kane says, "I am a woman. Nobody pays attention to me."  Women have a tendency to remain unnoticed and tend to have a humanistic approach to the way war is covered.

Women in Bosnia say being female has sometimes proved to be a plus in gaining access and information, or providing cover. The stereotype of women demand special treatment in the form of better food, more comfortable sleeping quarters, and private bathroom facilities have begun to break. It has been widely accepted that the willingness to risk one’s life depends more on the personality, character and sensitivity level than on being male or female.

Sexual violence, threats and attacks against female journalists are rarely talked about within journalistic circles, in the news media or by non-governmental organizations. Thus, woman journalists, from across the globe, who have been sexually abused choose to remain silent due to cultural and professional stigmas that could mean losing future assignments. The fact that Lara Logan openly talked about the assault on her in Egypt, has led to an improvement in the security facilities available to women journalists. Furthermore, such form of sexual abuse has met with vehement opposition.

According to Susan Milligan, a political reporter who has covered war in Iraq and the Balkans, women being pulled out from areas of conflict is insulting.

The risk associated with being a war correspondent isn't limited to women, says Badkhen, who has covered wars in Iraq as he too have been sexually assaulted in war too.

“But it's a risk that we choose to take because it's an important part of democracy, telling people what's going on."

Women journalists need to carry out their work with adequate security, protection and high-level support. Caution and preparatory research are of paramount importance to moving safely about in dangerous environments and gathering material for stories. Women journalists need to carry out their work with adequate security, protection and high-level support due to greater possibility of a sexual assault. Women venturing into such areas of conflict need to get advice from women who have already been there.

The woman who chooses to be a war reporter is clearly moving out of a traditional female role, and should be allowed to cover conflicts if she is fully aware of the possible consequences and is willing to face them. Their decision to move out of their comfort zone needs to be respected.