Publication

This paper examines the appeal of the so-called Islamic State (IS) to women living in the West and what other women can do to blunt the attractiveness of violent extremism. The text concludes that 1) the involvement of women in extremist causes goes beyond being mere jihadi brides; 2) their motives for joining violent groups don’t differ dramatically from those of men; and 3) countering violent extremism (CVE) policies need to reflect the multifaceted roles women play in both perpetrating and preventing violent behaviors.