Gendered Jihad: Islamic State’s Appeal to Western Women
Summary
This master thesis explores the relation between gender and female involvement in jihadist
terrorist organisations. The aim is to comprehend Islamic State (IS)’s success in recruiting the
largest number of Western women compared to its jihadist predecessors. In doing so, this thesis
tackles the following research question: To what extent do jihadist terrorist organisations make
use of gender in their appeal to women and how can this appeal be explained through feminist
theory? In answering this question, this thesis is divided threefold. First, it explores the role of
gender and female involvement in three jihadist terrorist organisations: the Chechen, Palestinian
and Al-Qaeda case. Second, it analyses the appeal IS makes in its recruitment of Western
women from a gender perspective. Third, it comprehends how this appeal can fit in the
framework of feminist theory. This thesis concludes that the narrative IS puts forward to
Western women is highly gendered. In its attempt to recruit Western women, IS frames the
contribution of women as essential to the survival of the caliphate and calls on women to
express their feminine identity. Herewith, IS constructs a powerful image of the ‘ideal female
recruit’.
Though often overlooked in terrorism research, using gender as an analytical tool can
facilitate a broader theoretical understanding of the narratives of jihadist organisations and the
ways they might appeal to women. In order to deepen our understanding of the phenomenon,
this thesis calls for (1) broadening the feminist conception of agency and (2) rethinking the
public/private dichotomy. Critically assessing feminist conceptualisations allows to unravel
how jihadist organisations increasingly recruit women and exploit gender by constructing
female agency and a promise of empowerment.