Gender, Sexuality, and Women's Studies Events

Location

Boswell Hall (formerly Morton Hall), Room 314
100 Ukrop Way
Williamsburg, VA 23185Map this location

Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) has invested significant resources in radicalizing women from both Western countries and the Middle East. As a result, hundreds of Western women alone have traveled to ISIS-held territory and joined "the cause." Many of these women are young in age and range from teens to early 20s. While Western media portrays these women as victims of online grooming, their motivations for joining the group are incredibly complex. Some voice their political desires to live in a state where race and nationality hold no meaning. I explore the varied motivations of Western women joining ISIS, and the roles they play once in ISIS-held territory. I also discuss policy recommendations for how Western governments can more effectively counter ISIS.