The Islamic State's Mujahidas: from Participants to Defenders of the Caliphate
Description
This dataset is an original compilation and systematic content analysis of English-language magazines published by the Islamic State (IS), specifically focusing on the representation and evolving roles of women within the group's propaganda from 2006 to 2019. The data encompasses issues from four major periods in the Islamic State's history: (1) establishment of the Islamic State in Iraq (2006-2011), (2) resurgence and expansion (2012-2013), (3) the Caliphate and territorial loss (2014-2018), and (4) the post-territorial era and relocation into refugee camps (2019 onwards). Using discourse analysis methods, the dataset captures textual data from English-language magazines produced by IS—including "Islamic State News," "Islamic State Report," "Dabiq," and "Rumiyah." Textual content was systematically analyzed and coded based on three analytical categories: Behavior, Role, and Experience. "Behavior" denotes women's compliance with or resistance to norms and rules prescribed by IS; "Role" refers to the status and functions ascribed to women within the group's evolving structure; and "Experience" encapsulates how women's lives within IS were affected by external military pressures and subsequent displacement into refugee camps. The dataset's significance lies in its detailed tracing of shifts in IS narratives, highlighting how women transitioned from primarily supportive roles—emphasized through domesticity and motherhood—to more active, including militant, roles. This dataset provides valuable insights into the gender dynamics within terrorist organizations, reflecting shifts in ideological and strategic adaptations amidst environmental pressures. As such, it is an essential resource for scholars and policymakers seeking to understand gender dynamics within terrorist organizations, Islamist propaganda evolution, and women's roles in political violence.