Women in and around violent extremism

• In Event: Violent Extremism and Organized Crime in Sweden 2

Abstract

In numerical terms, women are underrepresented in violent extremism. Still, the literature suggests that women both play a key role in these groups and that that the role and function of female members vary between different groups. Based on the contemporary Swedish case, we analyse the structural positions of women within different extremist milieus, ranging from street gangs to politically and religiously motivated groups that propagate and use violence as a means. We compare men and women with the aim of highlighting similarities and differences across, within, and around different groups. The database under analysis is based on records from the Swedish Police, the Swedish Security Service, and several other Swedish authorities, containing some 15,000 individuals that belong to groups of violent extremism, in addition to a large control group. 

Authors

• Christofer Edling, Lund University & Swedish Institute for Futures Studies

• Amir Rostami, Stockholm University / Swedish Institute for Futures Studies

• Hernan Mondani, Stockholm University / Swedish Institute for Futures Studies