Were there any women or mothers in the casualties at Mosul ??

[kentuck]

We say that it shouldn't matter, but it does. It is a terrible thing for a child to be without a father but it is even worse to be without a mother. Why?

[dflprincess]

1. Probably because we think of the mother as being the nurturer

Though, there are some studies that suggest it may be harder on kids to lose their father. The reasons being:

1. Widowed fathers are more apt to remarry
2. There is more apt to be a housekeeper, aunt, grandma, or neighbor that steps in as a surrogate mother.

The idea is that children who lose their mothers are more apt to have some woman in their lives to provide an adult female role model. This is less apt to happen for kids who need an adult male in their lives. The conclusion of the study I saw was that women are more willing to nuture other women's children; men are not as willing to nuture children who are not theirs.

I know this is a broad generalization and the conclusions are not true for every member of each sex. I also think a lot of this is cultural.

[kentuck]

2. But from the simple American perception.....

It would be perceived as "unacceptable" if the casualties are female, for whatever reason...If there was a mother in the casualties, I would guess we will see quite a bit of TV coverage about her in the days ahead? Just my guess.

[Crunchy Frog]

3. Doubtful. I don't think they would make much of it.

According to icasualties, around 29 female soldiers have died in Iraq so far. I know of at least two of them who were mothers, although there definitely may have been more. They've decided to treat all the deaths as if they are of minimal importance.

Making a big deal out of a casualty because it was a mother would go totally against their whole strategy for dealing with casualties.

I have also read about a severely wounded, hospitalized soldier who is the mother of some young children. She's a local celebrity, but not covered nationally at all as far as I know.

[T Bone]

4. Female and Male soldiers are Equally 'Fungible' to Rumsfeld

He is an egalitarian in regards to military fungibiles. Only slightly more bothersome now that he has to personally sign the condolences to the fungibles families. But he will be up to it. The Bastard.