Rethinking Gender and Extremism: The Roles of Women and Masculinities in Counterterrorism and Peacebuilding

This paper examines the role of women in both fostering and combating violent extremism, focusing on the intersection of gender constructions and counterterrorism strategies. Using empirical research with women who have joined ISIS or been imprisoned for terrorism-related activities, the first point of the study challenges the notion of women solely as victims in conflict scenarios. Instead, it highlights their complex roles as agents of change, both in supporting extremist factions and in peacebuilding efforts. The paper explores how gender—understood as socially constructed roles of masculinities and femininities—plays a critical role in violent extremism, influencing both the recruitment tactics of terrorist organizations and the approaches of counterterrorism actors.

The second point rethinks masculinities within extremist and counterterrorism contexts, emphasizing how hypermasculine narratives on both sides perpetuate cycles of violence. The second point advocates for a values-based approach to counterterrorism, proposing that adaptable, grounded values focused on protection, peace, and community cohesion can mitigate extremist violence. These insights demonstrate that a gender-sensitive approach, informed by an understanding of toxic masculinities, is crucial to creating effective, non-militarized counterterrorism strategies. The paper argues for shifting from hypermasculine security responses to a more inclusive, human security-centered approach.