Women, War and Terrorism

An African Feminist Critique

Abstract

This article examines war and terrorism discourses from an African feminist perspective. It focuses on the male-centric nature of war and terrorism discourse. The article argues that although women play critical roles in war and terrorism, their voices are not integrated into counterterrorism interventions because of the patriarchal nature of war and terrorism. The article critiques the dominant historical, philosophical, and theoretical perspectives that masculinize war and terrorism discourse. It explores three key questions, one: in what ways have men been masculinized into war and terrorism discourse; two: in what ways have women been excluded from war and terrorism discourse; and three: what contributions do women bring to efforts against terrorism based on their lived experiences? This article examines social theories that justify men’s dominance in the discourse on terrorism. It coins the African feminist theory Nafsi that acknowledges the power and vulnerability that inform women’s knowledge and experiences of terrorism. The article is based on a 2021 study in the Majengo slums of Nairobi, Kenya, and uses a narratological approach to capture the knowledge and experiences of mothers of male Al-Shabaab recruits to terrorism discourse. It concludes by exemplifying women’s continued contribution to fighting terrorism and calls for a gender-inclusive approach to terrorism discourse.