The Monstrous and the Vulnerable: Framing British Jihadi Brides

The media's coverage of the so-called "jihadi brides" from the UK, who joined the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, was characterized by a gendered dualistic construction that portrayed them as either monstrous or vulnerable. This construction detached womens involvement in jihadism from mens, scrutinized it more closely, and explained it through gender stereotypes that erased the agency of female extremists and neglected their stated motivations. These media representations also contributed to the development of new norms for dealing with the "brides," including targeted killing and the revocation of citizenship.

Format: Hardback
Length: 272 pages
Publication date: 23 December 2021
Publisher: C Hurst & Co Publishers Ltd

In June 2014, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi proclaimed the establishment of an Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, urging Muslims worldwide to migrate to this region. Over the following five years, approximately 150 women from the United Kingdom chose to respond to this call, becoming known as "jihadi brides." These women frequently featured in the media, generating significant interest and scrutiny. This book delves into the media's fascination with these individuals, examining the gendered dualistic construction of IS women as either monstrous or vulnerable. Similar to the sensationalization of the monstrous woman as irredeemably evil, the vulnerable girl was portrayed as groomed and naive. Both subjects were constructed in a manner that detached women's involvement in jihadism from men, subjected them to heightened scrutiny, and explained their actions through gender stereotypes that erased the agency of female extremists and disregarded their stated motivations.

As Leonie B. Jackson highlights, these media representations played a significant role in shaping new norms for addressing the "jihadi brides." Targeted killing and the revocation of citizenship were among the measures implemented in response to these women. While there was a perception that the vulnerable girl could be redeemed, the monstrous woman increasingly became perceived as expendable.

This book offers valuable insights into the media's portrayal of jihadi brides and their gendered dualistic construction. It sheds light on the ways in which these representations contributed to the development of new norms and strategies for dealing with these women, ultimately shaping the broader discourse surrounding Islamist extremism and women's roles within it.

Weight: 554g
Dimension: 154 x 223 x 36 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781787385450