The Problem Of Gender

One of the duties of the peacekeeping force in Somalia was to search civilians for concealed weapons and to confiscate these. With respect to the Islamic religion only women military police were permitted to search Somali women for concealed weapons. A riot almost broke out when a soldier, seemingly male, searched a Somali woman. When the soldier, Julie Baranowski, removed her helmet revealing her long blond hair the mood changed from anger to astonishment.

Gittoes' depiction of the event shows his characteristic expressionistic realism and bold style. George Gittoes was in Somalia in late February 1993, where he lived and worked with the Australian soldiers, first in Mogadishu and then predominantly in Baidoa and outlying areas.