Gender-specific profiles of left-wing extremists: a comparative analysis of male and female risk factors for radicalization

This study investigates gender dynamics in left-wing extremism by examining how women enter radical milieus, what motivates them, and how their roles compare to those of men. Drawing on data from PIRUS (Profiles of Individual Radicalization in the USA), the analysis focuses on 85 female and 226 male individuals who have been recorded as left-wing extremists since 2000. Using chi-square tests, the study reveals that women exhibited fewer individual risk factors, such as grievances or disintegration, yet were equally represented in leadership as men. Moreover, the data suggest that familial networks, close personal ties, and involvement in legal protest organizations play a more prominent role for women. Besides these differences, similar correlations for engagement in targeted violence against people were identified in separate analyses for women and men. The study concludes by discussing the implications of these findings for gender-sensitive prevention strategies, tailored intervention programs, and more nuanced deradicalization approaches.