Evolving Role of Women in Terror Groups: Progression or Regression

WUNRN

Bridgewater State University

Journal of International Women’s Studies

EVOLVING ROLE OF WOMEN IN TERROR GROUPS: PROGRESSION OR REGRESSION

S.V. Raghavan1, V. Balasubramaniyan2

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Abstract

Historically, women have been victims to a much greater degree than perpetrators of

violence. However, the 1970s witnessed the emergence of women as important protagonists in

the conflicts across the world. Recent years have witnessed suicide attacks perpetrated by women

suicide bombers. This growing trend of women bombers has the general public and

counterterrorism specialists concerned because of its implication that women will be key players

in future terrorist attacks.

Women’s role in terrorist organisations have also transformed since 1970s.Women across

the ideological spectrum played different roles at different times. The use of women for “soft

tasks” like logistics and recruitment gradually started to change in the mid-1980s when they

started playing a much more visible frontline role. A woman taking up a suicide bombing role

diverges significantly and is far more dangerous than their traditional activity of playing

logisticians, recruiters or even a frontline role. This paper scrutinizes this change.

There are multi causal issues which drive women to join terrorism and more so as suicide

bombers. Psychological, economic, political, religious and sociological factors can act as

contributors to understanding the causes that drive women towards terrorism.

This paper attempts to highlight the role played by women in various terrorist

organisations around the world. It also tries to bring out the factors which influence women to

participate in terrorist acts. It aims to bring out the above facts by analysing various groups

which have women cadre. Previous studies in the same realm have focused on a particular group

or a conflict whereas this paper attempts to examine female participation across multiple

conflicts in different groups driven by different ideology, which provides a clear insight into the

multi causal factors which are responsible for this trend. The methodology followed is a

descriptive one wherein the analysis is conducted on information derived from published

secondary data.

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