Separate or Equal? The Emergence of an All-Female Group in Norway's Rightist Underground

Abstract

This article discusses the importance of separate women's organizations in militant groups of the far right. The analysis suggests that the existence of a separate women's group has not only enhanced the respect the members feel for themselves and each other, but has been successful in eliciting greater respect from their male counterparts, resulting in the women receiving greater responsibility in the organization. The article is based on participant observations and on interviews with activists in the militant far-right underground in Norway. It assumes that the need for separate women's organizations in the rightist underground reflects a pre-existing dissatisfaction with conditions in the rightist underground and opportunities for females in a highly male-dominated environment.

With permission from Terrorism and Political Violence.