Moths to a Flame: Why Are Young British Women Drawn to The Islamic State?

Abstract

Approximately 55 young British females joined the Islamic State in 2015 alone, and the number continues to accelerate. While the phenomenon of women joining extremist organisations is not new, ISIS have internationally augmented the recruitment of western females with success. The following paper will attempt to contribute to the discussion of why British women are motivated to joining a terrorist organisation like ISIS. The role of social media in reinforcing ideological messages will also be explored, using case studies of British girls that have fled to Syria; including the Halane twins and Aqsa Mahmood. In doing so, the paper utilises a devised conceptual framework of radicalisation, developed from literature and existing research. In particular, special focus is applied to the predisposing factors, taking into account the sociological and psychological causes that may compel an individual to embrace radical ideology. This paper concludes that extreme religious ideology is a significant element to the radicalisation process and has been severely underestimated. In addition, research findings suggest that the core motivations for women joining ISIS are inherently personal, and relate to the human desires of love, belonging and a sense of purpose.