Senior Lecturer in Criminology Dr. Elizabeth Pearson talked about her research on gender and extremism and book Extreme Britain: Gender, Masculinity and Radicalisation with Laurie Taylor, presenter of BBC Radio Four’s Thinking Allowed. They talked about the ethics of talking to extreme actors in the far right and jihadist groups, as well as the role of gender and masculinities in both men and women’s pathways into extremism.

Elizabeth Pearson discussed her research with women and men 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. She discussed how gender plays a role in far right fragmentation and explored the leadership styles of different far right actors, including Tommy Robinson, and British Freedom Party head Jayda Fransen.

Elizabeth also discussed the role of gender in extremism, noting that her research showed radicalisation is a masculinity project, with men’s status-seeking at the centre of radical activism.

She was joined by fellow academic of gender and the far right, Dr. Kat Williams, who discussed the myths of women’s involvement in the far right, based on her work on the German political party the AfD – Alternative for Germany.

The book Extreme Britain: Gender, Masculinity and Radicalisation is published by Hurst in the UK, and OUP in the US.