Extreme Britain: Gender, Masculinity and Radicalization

Young women bound for Islamic State, or "Free Speech" protests for Tommy Robinson--radicalization spans ideologies. Though an often-used term, the process of radicalization is not well understood, and the role of gender within it is often ignored. This book reveals the centrality of gender to radicalization, using primary research among two of Britain's key extremist movements: the banned Islamist group al-Muhajiroun, and those networked to it; and the anti-Islam radical right, including the English Defence League and Britain First.
Through interviews with leaders including Anjem Choudary, Jayda Fransen and Tommy Robinson, as well as their followers, Elizabeth Pearson explores the making of extreme men and women, showing both parallels and distinctions between the two movements. She argues that perceived gendered differences and boundaries are central to radicalization pathways, but rooted in local cultures and place; and challenges notions of radicalization as transformative, highlighting instead continuities between activist and non-activist practices of masculinity. She examines how extreme groups construct, collectivize, mobilize and legitimize--but also resist--ideas of masculinity and gender.
Understanding the men and women involved in extreme movements will better equip us to counter them. This fascinating study offers invaluable insight into some of their lives and motivations.