An article in this month’s edition of Marie Claire caught my attention, not for its superficiality, bur for its derogatory attitude towards a hero, a fallen comrade in the war on terror. “Confidential, The Spy Next Door“ (July 2010) by Gretchen Voss highlights Elizabeth Hanson and her experience as a CIA operative. The article does not praise the dedication and sense of duty to her country that Hanson possessed or her decision to devote her life to her country by becoming an agent of the CIA. Rather, the article laments her decision and subsequent untimely death in a suicide bombing attack on a U.S. Military outpost in Afghanistan. The article describes Hansen as a “bubbly Midwestern girl” and questions her motives for choosing such a dangerous profession, implying that her talents could have been put to much better use.
The article ends on this somber note: “A new star was carved into the CIA’s Memorial Wall in Langley, Virginia. But for Hanson’s family and friends, the true story of her choices, her career, and her life in the shadows will remain a mystery.” My question is, if Hanson were male, would this story read the same? Would it highlight a young man’s attractiveness or his bubbly/sweet/patient/goofy demeanor? Would it describe Hanson in childish ways, pointing out his love of cupcakes or declare that his reasons for joining the CIA were a desire to be patriotic “while at the same time live overseas and have a glamorous life”???? Where is the praise of Hanson’s bravery and talent as a CIA agent? Where is the pride that at 30 years old Hanson was an accomplished young woman with a promising career ahead of her? Where is the encouragement for more people like Hanson to devote their lives in service to their country?
Oh. Right. Pretty young (white) talented women should not chose dangerous jobs, because that would be unbecoming of a young lady. Hanson should have chosen to use her abilities in more productive/appropriate ways, in professions that are befitting of a young attractive (white) woman. It is seemingly obscene to Voss that Hanson choose the path she did. The tragedy and the loss that Voss laments is not of a good CIA agent extinguished in the line of duty. Her lament is for the young beautiful girl who should have never been in such a dangerous situation in the first place. Voss even implies that Hanson was suicidal: “Hanson’s inner circle are left to ruminate on why their friend chose this path,” implying that Hanson was on a mission to die, that Hanson’s choice to become a CIA agent was a reckless endangerment of her life, not a desire to serve her country.
What is tragic is that Hanson’s memory has been disgraced with a lament for her chosen profession, not a lament over the loss of her life. This article does not praise Hanson for her accomplishments, instead it undermines her and her decisions. And this is what is published in a main stream magazine, presumably for young girls to read. The lesson to be learned from this article is for young attractive women should not to join professions that might endanger their lives. The real tragedy is that even in death Hanson is confined to the constructs of her gender and undermined rather than honored for her bravery and dedication.
Side Note about Marie Claire:
Marie Claire is a “women’s interest” magazine and carries the connotations, like the majority of the magazines of its genre, of being about fashion and beauty and overall quite superficial. Marie Claire tries to break through this mold, with epithets on the cover like: “declare you independence” and “more than just a pretty face.” This allows the magazine to take on more “serious” issues and places it in a cross over section of pro-women and serious while still incorporating fashion and beauty (which are, after all still important to all women). Or so they would like you to think. However the magazine is no different that every other “women’s interest” magazine out there—teaching women the beauty secrets to become more attractive/popular/desirable. For a great look and insight into the phenomenon of “women’s interest” magazines check out 18 year-old Jamie Keiles’ new blog: The Seventeen Magazine Project.
