Gender and Terrorism: A study on women in the workforce and its impact on women in violent political organizations
Open Access
Author:
Ortiz-Landazabal, Noelia
Area of Honors:
Interdisciplinary in African Studies and Political Science
Degree:
Bachelor of Arts
Document Type:
Thesis
Thesis Supervisors:
James A Piazza, Thesis Supervisor Michael Barth Berkman, Thesis Honors Advisor Kevin J Thomas, Thesis Honors Advisor
Keywords:
Terrorism women female africa religion socioeconomic status
Abstract:
The rise in terrorist attacks conducted by women has led to a heightened interest in why women join these movements. This thesis examines how African insurgencies and terrorist movements in countries where women’s socioeconomic status vary are more or less likely to have women as members or combatants. Using quantitative methods, I seek to understand how the waged and salaries status of women affects their involvement in 165 insurgency and terrorist movements across 19 African countries. Taken together, the results suggest that there is no significant correlation between waged and salaried female workers and women’s involvement in insurgency groups and terrorist movements. There is also no significant correlation between waged and salaried female workers and women’s role in combat in insurgency groups or terrorist movements. However, my results show that there is a correlation between Christianity and women’s involvement and role in insurgency groups and terrorist movements. While my dependent variables were not significant, this research is still important as it reveals the underlying factors for the rise of women in insurgency and political movements.
