Hamera, Helena (2025) Female ISIS returnees: Challenges of Gender-Sensitive Policies and Actions. The Case Study of the Netherlands. Bachelor thesis, Global Responsibility & Leadership (GRL).
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Abstract
This thesis explores why gender considerations are significant in returnee strategies and to what extent Dutch policies are gender-sensitive in addressing female returnees, particularly those linked to ISIS. Framed within the feminist theory, this study argues that current approaches often reinforce binary narratives, viewing women as either victims or perpetrators, rather than acknowledging the complexity of their roles and lived-experiences. Using a qualitative research design, the study draws on semi-structured interviews with experts in the fields of counterterrorism, security, radicalization and gender, alongside with a document analysis of Dutch policy frameworks and terrorism threat assessments. The findings suggest that while the Netherlands promotes a “gender-neutral” and case-by-case approach, it is not based on a meaningful gender analysis and therefore risks marginalizing female returnees by failing to meet their gender-specific needs. The thesis concludes that a more nuanced, intersectional perspective is necessary. One that actively includes gender-sensitive insights, as well as female agency in risk assessments, reintegration programs, and policymaking. The study contributes to broader counterterrorism and security research by underscoring the need for policies that address structural gender biases and calls for future research to expand gender analysis beyond the female category to include male returnees and wider gender dynamics.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Bachelor) |
|---|---|
| Name supervisor: | Belloir, A.C. |
| Date Deposited: | 10 Jun 2025 08:38 |
| Last Modified: | 10 Jun 2025 08:38 |
| URI: | https://campus-fryslan.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/604 |
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