This paper explores the growing phenomenon of female foreign terrorist fighters (FTF). Drawing on secondary research, media reporting, government documents, and interviews with relatives, the authors examine who these women are, what motivates them to travel, and the roles they occupy once in conflict zones.
The analysis challenges simplified portrayals of women as either passive victims or ideological fanatics, showing instead a wide diversity of backgrounds, motivations, and levels of agency. It highlights how gender norms and expectations shape women’s pathways into violent extremism, their participation within such groups, and the ways their involvement is understood by authorities and the media.
The paper concludes by underscoring the need to incorporate gender-sensitive analysis into prevention, assessment, and response strategies related to foreign fighters, warning that gender-blind approaches risk misunderstanding both women’s roles and the broader dynamics of radicalisation.