Studies on female radicalisation to jihadi terrorism

Abstract

The aim of the article is to analyze the women’s participation in jihadist movements through feminist perspectives. The hypothesis of this paper is the assumption that the factors determining and initiating the fascination with leads to political violence may be different among women and young girls than among men. The cultural and social determinants and perceived female roles in particular communities are of particular importance. The specifics of the socialization of women to political violence are not in contrast to the radicalization of men but should be considered as a complement to studies on terrorism. There are indications of radicalization of attitudes and behaviors, including individual factors pushing and sustaining involvement in terrorism (push and pull factors). The following methods have been applied in the article: theoretical research methods (classification and systematization, verification), general-purpose methods (analysis, synthesis, induction, deduction) and other research methods typical for social sciences: statistical, comparative, descriptive, analysis of sources, analysis and criticism of the literature on the subject. The conclusion was that manipulation of masculinity and femininity is used not only by terrorist groups in recruitment processes, but also in the analysis of this phenomenon itself. Gender relations also affect accepted interpretive solutions of phenomena in which women participate, and above all, their marginalization in violence studies.