FORUM - More Than "Jihadi Brides" and "Eye Candy": How Dabiq Appeals to Western Women

Dabiq’s propaganda aimed at Western women is based on more than romance and sex, argues Kiriloi M. Ingram. A more nuanced understanding of IS’s appeal to women, in particular of the five categories of female archetypes into which IS tends to group women, would allow for more effective counter-strategies. Recent setbacks in Syria and Iraq have not deterred the so-called “Islamic State” (IS) from using propaganda to appeal to Western women. Indeed, the latest issue of its English language magazine, Dabiq, featured two articles for female audiences. IS’s ability to attract Western women has captured the world’s attention, sparking fierce debate about their motivations. Unfortunately, this discourse has often become yet another forum for reproducing gendered stereotypes via sensationalised depictions of “jihadi brides” (or more derogatively “jihadi sluts”) falling for IS’s “eye candy” online.