El rostro de la guerra. Las mujeres en las fotografías de la prensa internacional durante la invasión de Ucrania / The Face of War. Women in the Photographs of the InternationalPress during the Invasion of Ukraine

This study examines the visual representation of women in the international press during the first month of the Russian invasion of Ukraine (24 February – 24 March 2022). A content analysis of 201 front-page photographs from six leading newspapers (<i>The Guardian</i>, <i>The New York Times</i>, <i>Le Monde</i>, <i>El País</i>, <i>El Universal</i>, and <i>Clarín</i>) reveals a quantitatively balanced but qualitatively gendered portrayal. Women appear in 47.3% of images, significantly above the global press average, yet are predominantly depicted in passive roles: as refugees, caregivers, and victims, often accompanied by children. In contrast, men are more frequently shown as combatants, political actors, or active participants in the conflict. Visual narratives reinforce traditional gender stereotypes, portraying men as protectors and women as those to be protected. The gender of the photographer also influences representation: male photojournalists tend to feature male subjects more prominently, while female photographers offer a more balanced gender portrayal. Captions frequently identify women explicitly by gender, reinforcing traditional roles. The findings highlight how, despite increased visibility, women’s roles in war coverage remain constrained by enduring patriarchal visual codes, shaping public perceptions of conflict and reinforcing gendered interpretations of war.