Gendered Jihad: Islamic State’s Appeal to Western Women

Abstract

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.