Women and political violence

Women have been involved in different aspects of political violence for well over 100 years. Even within Islamist-related political violence, women have played diverse roles, from combatants to recruiters. Despite the diversity of roles, prevailing gender stereotypes continue to frame women as innately maternal, peaceful and domestic. This continues to result in discourse, policy, and programs that remain rooted in a victim narrative, hindering attempts to integrate gender perspectives into the analysis, understanding, and prevention of violence and conflict.

“Women have long played an important role in jihad, but the Islamic State has, since its inception, expanded both the potential and scope of those female roles. The caliphate may be no longer, but Islamic State’s military defeats have not dampened the appeal of jihad in many quarters. In fact, conditions are already set for an IS resurgence. There is a global cohort of over 73 000 women and children (10 000 of them foreigners) in Kurdish camps who surrendered after the fall of Baghouz. The Islamic State considers this cohort, as well as other female supporters, a key part of its future survival. As Islamic State shifts from governance project to global terrorist movement, women will continue to play an important part of that transformation. Greater female participation in jihad will have a profound influence on the jihadist threat and counterterrorism efforts. In future, national security efforts will need to take this into account in countering terrorism and violent extremism, as well as in rehabilitation programs.”