The paper provides a gender analysis on the role of women in violent extremism in Ehtiopia, including government-led efforts on counter-terrorism, and preventing and countering violent extremism (CT/PCVE).
Divided into two main sections, the paper examines the roles of women in violent extremism, while also understanding how women contribute to PCVE efforts in Ethiopia. In the first section, the paper explores questions of women’s participation within violent extremism, including the hardening of in-group identity, sense of community and seeking recognition, romanticism, and fascination with a charismatic leader, as well as a sense of victimhood as a result of government (in)action such as gender-specific violations. In the second part, the paper examines the types of womanhood mobilised in PCVE efforts, suggesting that most efforts are grounded in stereotypes essentializing women’s roles as mothers. The paper also discusses the links between violent extremism and violence against women and girls,.
The paper concludes by establishing three main sets of recommendations pertinent to reform within the larger security sector in relation to PCVE; intersectional analysis in research and policy design; and investment in integrated, contextual, and locally-driven approaches to PCVE, including specific mechanisms for women’s representation at all stages.