Women and Terrorism, Essay Example

Female terrorism is a growing trend, becoming extremely popular in the activities of the global terror groups. Between the years 1985 and 2006, approximately two hundred women were engaged in active terrorism, counting to more than fifteen percent of the attacked launched all throughout the world. The involvement of women in terror was first highlighted by groups like Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in Sri Lanka and Muslim- Palestinian groups, such as Hamas. Since then, both religious and secular terrorist organizations within the Palestinian territories have employed eight women in successful missions against Israel.

Stories of female terrorists like Idris (Palestinian female Muslim), Nalini, Dhano (LTTE) and so on are instances of one of the hundreds of mask wrapped women, cordoned in black turban- setting out to give their lives in martyrdom. The message conveyed by the female terrorists is that “they are more valuable to their societies dead than they ever could be alive” (Bloom 143). Does female terrorism empower women or further subjugate them to men? This essay examines that while women involve in terrorist activities, to avenge personal loss or change societal gender norms, terrorist organizations merely exploit women as tactical pawns, to evade security measures and garner hyped media attention for their cause. A brief presentation of Bloom, Connor and Miller’s critical analysis on women’s role in terrorism will be studied, explaining why women are motivated to be associated in terror activities and how these patriarchal terrorist organizations exploit women.

Evolution has defined feminism as more subtle, gentle and poise gender- one whose natural, biological attributes are peaceful and gullible. With the progress of time, however, women have come a long way of retribution- excelling in every field of ordinance with men. But it is a shocking insinuation to see women purged and bandaged in heavy armor – killing and begetting acts of violence and coercive terror, becoming equal and conjunctive partners in jihad or terrorism; obliterating the pride and vehemence of their enemies- and in this act nothing stands in their way, and not even their earthly existence. It is of much interest to learn the reasons behind the involvement of women in terrorist activities.

Terrorism is beyond the adjuration of gender. Most of these women are vulnerable and sensitized on the personal motivations of- jihad, liberty or martyrdom. Moreover, their backgrounds are afflicted and torn by the vehemence and torture of outsiders (raped by soldiers); their family and personal lives been victimized by foreign malice and coercion (bombs destroyed their immediate family); their religious dictates on adoption of terror for the contemplation of heaven and God. Whatever may be the cause, it is reasonably clear that the participation of women in terror bombings is in sharp contrast to their biological instincts of patronizing peaceful mechanisms for conflict resolution.

Women have actively participated in the terrorist activities since the evolution of modern terrorism in the 1960s, but fortunately during this period they have traditionally been relegated to the supporting roles. Women were human shields, collaborators, nurses, informers, and were responsible for nurturing their children in a revolutionary environment. As Bloom points out that “What previously seemed highly unlikely because of the existing notions of women as victims of war rather than as perpetrators, women are now taking a leading role in conflicts by becoming suicide bombers… transforming the revolutionary womb into an exploding one” (143). The role of women had largely surpassed the normal approaches of giving birth to martyrs – nurturing and preparing them for active participation of jihad for the nation. Feasibility and success in using female terrorists in jihadist missions have transformed their role into a more important one, usurped by violence and terror. The phenomenon challenges the mere specter of their sublimity and their coherence aptitude to mitigate conflicts through peaceful methods.

Bloom suggests the basic motives of women to involve in terrorism: mainly to avenge personal loss, escape life of monotony and achieve fame, or equalize the patriarchal societies in which they live (143). Her characterization of women in terrorism is grounded in the Islamic terrorism that was synonymous with Jihad, meaning the eradication of non-Muslims in the name of Allah. Radical Islamism gave rise to Hamas and Hezbollah and this religious extremism deeply motivated the women terrorists of this region.  Similarly, Connor also believes that some women are motivated to engage in terrorist activities due to personal issues. For example, the Tamil Tigers often absorb women who had been victims of sexual abuse, torture, humiliation, and death by the enemy forces (55). Therefore, LTTE membership is a platform to seek revenge and condemn their enemies. Bloom also says that LTTE women demonstrate that they were initially involved for personal reasons, rather than ideological ones. Bloom also cites the example of women terror operative in Chechnya where they have joined the struggle purely for personal victimization by the enemies. Here, the female operatives are called “Black Widows,” because their mothers, sisters, or wives of Chechen men were killed and oppressed in battles with federal troops. Similarly, Miller shares a similar view like the other critics women being involved in terrorism to avenge personal loss. She cites the interview with Qudsi (a prisoner in the Israeli prison): “Two of my cousins were killed, my brother was jailed. The army invaded our city and demolished houses. A war raged inside me: Should I, or should I not do something? The Israelis were killing us like rats and nobody was doing anything, not the Arabs, nobody. And I thought: No one will help us. I must make these dogs know how we feel. Even bullets that miss make noise.”

The only difference I guess with Bloom and Connor’s views is perhaps the fact that Bloom considered women to be either victims of rape or sexual abuse. Moreover, “the evidence that males in terrorist organizations exercise control over the women is also strong. Palestinian female cadres are not welcomed into the paramilitary terrorist factions, which remain dominated by men.” While Connor believes that large numbers of women terrorists are highly educated and intelligent, “female suicide bombers, statistics show, tend to be better educated than their male counterparts…and about 40 percent of them are educated.” She rejects the notion that all female suicide bombers are damaged goods and that women are easily being manipulated than men. Connor also views that in Sri Lanka, where women constitute 30 percent of the suicideattackers and form crucial conventional fighting units, few women are among the top leadership.

I agree with the views of the critics that while women might acquire a sense of empowerment or gender equality by engaging in terrorism- terrorist organizations ultimately recruits women as tactical assets. The notion of Miller is more synonymous and agreeable in this context as she gives a vivid description of the true apathetic characters of Wafa and Shafa. Her protagonists bereted by radical Islamism sentiments or gender impulses had their share of trauma and torment by involving in the struggle, only to be remotely affected by the circumstances. She further reveals how such women are used as tools of oppression and how they fight incessantly with the myths of the patriarchal society and encompasses a painful tale of women in terror. According to Miller the prospect of choice is especially compelling “in a culture that offers women so few of them.”(Miller 144) In such unforgiving and rigid societies, where the action of women “can result in the loss of family honor, a chance to marry, and occasionally even death at the hands of outraged relatives,” (144) the decision to redeem oneself through a suicide mission does not seem as terrible, or irrational  an alternative.. Nevertheless, analysis of both roles in the pretext of involvement in terror movement shows that to break the generalized gender rules within their society.

The three critics also share similar views about some women opting to join terrorist organizations as an outlet to challenge normative, traditional gender roles that have been ingrained in the society.  Bloom rebukes such foolish and impulsive behavior and cites that fanaticism and death cults generally do not lead to liberation, “women may exhibit courage and steely resolve as terrorists, but if they are part of a system that affords them unequal status, then feminism doesn’t apply.” Bloom cites the quote of Clara Beyler, a counterterrorism analyst in Washington, D.C as: “There is a difference between men and women suicide attackers: women consider combat as a way to escape the predestined life that is expected of them. When women become human bombs, their intent is to make a statement not only in the name of a country, a religion, a leader, but also in the name of their gender (Bloom 94).

Connor views that Tamil women were also subject to gender discrimination and considered that the involvement of women as combatants would violate the purity of the LTTE traditions (46). However, things changed and present LTTE is largely based on women combatants- as they realized that women could be easily managed and maneuvered. The Palestinian case is perhaps the best example of women who has increased their participation in terrorist activities to restructure the societal gender norms and achieve a degree of gender equality. “Idris opened the door for women to do something important in our struggle… Til Wafa, women had just helped jihad by making food. I thought: We can do more” (Miller 143). Miller says that regardless of the nature of the terrorist organization- when a woman commits an act of terror, they are making a gender statement. When discussing Wafa Idris’s legacy, the author says that the funeral held in her honor looked was synonymous to a feminist rally, with hundreds of women paying saying that they want to be the next in line for a bombing mission. Rightly quoted by Bloom as “ It is a woman who blew herself up, and with her exploded all the myths about women’s weakness, submissiveness, and enslavement….” (Bloom 95)

Thus, it proves that women and her gender specific role may get a temporary boost from terrorist activities- only to further expose their vulnerability. Their act of violence in no way symbolizes to women empowerment in the patriarchal society- more so they evolve as heinous objects of crime and destruction so that men get a chance to further subjugate them and used them as mere ploys in their mission. Thus, to conclude that while most Palestinian and LTTE women chose to be martyrs for their cause, they are ultimately victim to the patriarchal institutions, becoming tactical assets.

Reference

Bloom, M “Female suicide bombers: a global trend”, 2007

Miller, M “The bomb under the Abaya” 2007

O’Connor, A. S “Picked last: women and terrorism” 2007