#IS_Fangirl: Exploring a New Role for Women in Terrorism

Authors

  • Laura Huey University of Western Ontario
  • Eric Witmer University of Western Ontario

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15664/jtr.1211

Keywords:

terrorism, women, Islamic State, fan girl, Jihad, social media

Abstract

In this paper we present initial results from an ongoing study of women affiliated with pro-IS networks on Twitter and other social media. Our particular focus is on 20 accounts belonging to individual identified as ‘fan girls.’ Drawing on an analysis of Twitter posts from these 20 accounts, we identify key characteristics of the fan girl in an attempt to bring conceptual clarity to this role and enhance our understanding of who these girls are and their potential for radicalization.

Author Biographies

Laura Huey, University of Western Ontario

Dr. Laura Huey isthe Director of the Canadian Society of Evidence Based Policing (CAN-SEBP at www.can-sebp.net or @can_sebp), the Director of the Canadian Policing Research Network, a member of the Council of Canadian Academies'​ Expert Panel on the Future of Policing Models, a founding member of SERENE-RISC (a NCE-funded cybercrime research consortium) and a Senior Researcher for the Canadian Network for Research on Terrorism, Security and Society.

Eric Witmer, University of Western Ontario

Mr. Witmer is a graduate student in the Department of Sociology at the University of Western Ontario

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Published

2016-02-05

Issue

Vol. 7 No. 1 (2016)

Section

Articles

License

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