This paper sets out to provide a nuanced perspective on ISIL women (women in the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant) by analyzing their prescribed roles and positions in the Islamic State in light of particular norms that many feminists adhere to in order to transcend the debate between global and Islamic feminism. The author lays a particular focus on the political dimension that is interwoven with the role of ISIL women in the establishment of a global caliphate and identifies some of the intricacies thereof.
More specifically, the construction of differences between women and men as well as among different types of women served as a main instrument for ISIL’s gender ideology in this larger state-building project. The author, thus, aims to address and answer the following question in this paper: How did the construction of differences inherent to ISIL’s gender ideology shape the discursive construction of the role and position of women in the Islamic State and the Levante?
Women joining and serving terrorist groups is not a new phenomenon. However, the large number of female recruits also from Western parts of the world together with ISIL’s gender-targeted propaganda strategy, its specific policy on women and its strict gender apparatus made it rather unique. The global dimension with women having joined from all over the world to support the establishment of a global caliphate adds yet another level to the complexities and historical relevance of this phenomenon.
A lot has been written about ISIL’s gender-specific recruitment practices, the motivations of women to join ISIL as well as the particular functions of and conditions for women from a security perspective, particularly with view to counter-terrorism aspirations and the broader “Women, Peace and Security” (WPS) agenda addressing also women’s right’s concerns including Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV). ISIL women are thus mostly portrayed as either committed jihadists or victims of a brutal regime.
Less has been written though on ISIL’s gender ideology from a feminist perspective, although various sources list “liberation from the West” as one of the main motivators for women to join ISIL. The literature also neglects somewhat the political dimension of ISIL’s gender apparatus. Considering women’s contributions to a larger state-building project it is rather surprising that the literature has not taken these perspectives up in depth.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- Methodology
- An Ideology of Differences
- ISIL Women vs. ISIL Men
- ISIL Women vs. Western Women
- ISIL Women vs. Kafir Women…........
- The Political Sphere.…….........
- A Gender-Based Apartheid System..........\n
- The Female Jihad
- The All-Female Al-Khanssaa Brigade ....\n
- The Media
- A Space for Women.....\n
- The Notion of Sisterhood
- An Alternative Vision of Liberation and Empowerment
- Conclusion.............
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
The paper aims to provide a nuanced perspective on ISIL women by analyzing their prescribed roles and positions in the Islamic State in light of particular norms. It focuses on the political dimension interwoven with the role of ISIL women in the establishment of a global caliphate and identifies some of the intricacies thereof.
- The construction of differences between women and men as well as among different types of women served as a main instrument for ISIL’s gender ideology in this larger state-building project.
- The paper examines how the construction of differences inherent to ISIL's gender ideology shapes the discursive construction of the role and position of women in the Islamic State and the Levante.
- It analyzes ISIL’s manifesto on women “Women of the Islamic State” issued by the Al-Khanssaa Brigade - ISIL’s all-female police force and media wing - and its online magazines Rumiyah and Dabiq.
- The paper considers women's contributions to a larger state-building project and explores the political dimension of ISIL's gender apparatus.
- It analyzes ISIL's gender ideology from a feminist perspective, exploring the notion of "liberation from the West" as a motivator for women to join ISIL.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
Introduction
The introduction establishes the context of the paper, highlighting the unique features of ISIL's gender-targeted propaganda strategy, its specific policy on women, and the global dimension of women joining from all over the world. It discusses the existing literature on ISIL women, emphasizing the gap in research on ISIL's gender ideology from a feminist perspective and the political dimension of its gender apparatus.
Methodology
This section outlines the methodology employed in the paper, detailing the sources of analysis, including ISIL's manifesto on women, "Women of the Islamic State," and its online magazines Rumiyah and Dabiq. It explains the analytical framework based on Cunningham's seven spheres of influence and Von Knop's concept of "female jihad."
An Ideology of Differences
This chapter examines the construction of differences between ISIL women and ISIL men, ISIL women and Western women, and ISIL women and kafir women. It analyzes the role of these constructions in shaping the perceptions of women's nature and roles in the Islamic State.
The Political Sphere
This chapter explores the political dimension of ISIL's gender ideology, focusing on the concepts of "gender apartheid" and "female jihad." It discusses the establishment of a gender-based apartheid system within the Islamic State and the role of women in supporting and facilitating terrorist operations.
The Media
This chapter investigates the role of media in shaping ISIL's gender ideology, focusing on the notion of "sisterhood" and the concept of an alternative vision of liberation and empowerment. It explores the ways in which ISIL utilizes media to propagate its ideology and influence the perception of women.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
The paper focuses on ISIL's gender ideology, women's roles and positions in the Islamic State, the political dimension of its gender apparatus, and feminist perspectives. It analyzes the construction of differences, gender-based apartheid, female jihad, and the role of media in shaping ISIL's propaganda and influence on women.
- Quote paper
- Anna Scheithauer (Author), 2019, In the Name of ISIL. Reflections on the Status of Women in the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/502997
