Introduction: Rethinking Gender in Responses to Violent Extremism

Abstract

Over the last few years, there has been a growing interest in the role of women in the prevention of violent extremism and within extremist networks. Yet research and scholarship in this area remains limited and a deeper engagement with gender and the role of norms around masculinities and femininities in violent extremism is needed. This special issue includes a selection of both timely and relevant articles by academics and practitioners, mostly from the Global South, focusing on gender and violent extremism particularly in the context of East Africa. The articles were presented at the Global Network on Gender and Responding to Violent Extremism (GARVE) online conference in November 2021. GARVE is an international network involving academics, policymakers and practitioners to promote innovative and critical thinking on violent extremism from a gender perspective and facilitate shared learning.

Harnessing Kenyan Mothers Knowledge to Counter Violent Extremism: A Contribution to Feminist Philosophical Approaches

“…Currently, at less than 1 % globally, scholars and researchers have systematically excluded African women in knowledge production (Assié-Lumumba, 2020, Anbi and Lazaar, 2021). This exclusion extends to the field of violent extremism as noted by Aroussi and Ali (2023). Policy makers do not sufficiently include women's input on how to address violent extremism, relegating them instead to the prevention domain (Fink, Barakat, Shetret, 2013).…”