Abstract
In researching the evolution of community-based approaches to countering terrorism, an important finding has been the development of innovative practices by community organizations in relation to women’s roles — potential and actual — in violent extremism and in its prevention. While both the definition of ‘community’ and the approaches explored throughout this book necessarily include women, the gender-specific nature of some of the work deserves separate analysis. Additionally, the inclusion, indeed active participation and leadership, of women in this arena challenges a number of academic theories and social discourses in relation to Muslim women, their perceived social roles and their relevance to understanding security. This chapter will therefore unpick the multiple strands surrounding these issues, beginning with the broader historical discourses which act as the backdrop for the way in which Muslim women are viewed within the security arena and ending with an exploration of grassroots work by and for Muslim women that contributes towards countering terrorism.
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© 2012 Laura Zahra McDonald
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McDonald, L.Z. (2012). Gender within a Counter-Terrorism Context. In: Spalek, B. (eds) Counter-Terrorism. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137009524_5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137009524_5
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, London
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