Radicalisation and Gender – What Do We Know?

This report stems from the recognised need to explore the role of gender in radicalisation processes more deeply. The gaps identified in literature are supported by research and interviews with professionals working at the intersection of gender and radicalisation, detailed further in a complimentary report available here. Additional insights are shared in a concise analysis for ICCT here. Together, these three publications emphasise the gaps and needs in this field while showcasing opportunities to better integrate gender-based analysis into research and practice. 

The literature focusing on gender and radicalisation has steadily increased over the last ten years. This has reflected the rise of extremism across the globe and has been particularly triggered by researchers seeking to better understand the experiences of individuals throughout all stages of the radicalisation process. However, research on the topic has also largely focused on the experiences of women, especially those associated with Islamist forms of extremism. Such narrow focus has resulted in several gaps in the literature, which in turn has translated into gaps in practice. This report seeks to identify the key trends in research between 2014 and 2024 concerning literature on gender and radicalisation, as well as make explicit the areas that remain underexplored. Focusing on tangible recommendations, which align with the needs of practitioners, the report seeks to bring forward the state of the art of research on gender and radicalisation.