New study on gender constructions in Salafism published

5 June 2024

What roles do gender constructions play in the radicalization process of women and men in Salafism? What insights can be gained from radicalization processes for deradicalization work? The cooperation study "Gender constructions between power and stereotypes: A new perspective for deradicalization work in Salafism" provides answers and also presents approaches for gender-sensitive intervention options. The CISS was involved in the study with PD Dr. Eva Herschinger.

The study is the result of the two-year project "Intervention points for gender-sensitive deradicalization work". The aim of the project was to identify intervention points for gender-sensitive deradicalization work based on the analysis of radicalization processes of four women and three men. The case analyses have shown that gender plays a central role in the context of radicalization and Salafism. The ideological ideas of gender roles were adopted in the radicalization, but it also became apparent that the Salafist ideal images of masculinity and femininity are fragile in reality. The lived role practice repeatedly showed moments in which the gender boundaries were not adhered to (gender transgression) and areas of tension between ideal and reality arose.

Based on the results of the research project, implications for counseling work arise: For example, it is advisable to use dissonances between ideology and lived reality in order to start successful distancing work.

The BAMF Research Center and the BAMF "Radicalization" counseling center were cooperation partners in the project carried out by the Bavarian State Office of Criminal Investigation and the Hessian Ministry of the Interior and Sport. Other cooperation partners were the State Office for the Protection of the Constitution in Baden-Württemberg, the Federal Criminal Police Office and the Center for Intelligence and Security Studies (CISS) at the University of the German Armed Forces in Munich. The project was funded by the "Radicalization" advisory center with funds from the Federal Ministry of the Interior and Home Affairs (BMI).

The study can be found here.

Photo: iStockphoto | JuSun