ISIS’s Female Suicide Bombers, Breaking The News The Framing of ISIS’s Female Suicide Bombers in American and Middle Eastern Newspapers, a Comparison, 2013-2022

This study focusses on the framing of ISIS’s female suicide bombers in American and Middle Eastern newspapers. The way newspapers frame ISIS’s female suicide bombers influences public opinion and shapes people’s perception on ISIS’s female suicide bombers. It is argued that American and Middle Eastern newspapers frame ISIS’s female suicide bombers similarly. ISIS’s female suicide bombers are framed by both in four relevant ways. Firstly, ISIS’s female suicide bombers are framed as rare additionally, it is framed as rare for ISIS to use female suicide bombers. Secondly, these women are framed as mothers and passive actors, influenced by their husbands and families. Moreover, these women are framed as victims by the American newspapers, however, Middle Eastern newspapers contradict this. Lastly, these women are framed both as having traditional roles as well as active fighting roles. Overall, this research show there is a strong presence of traditional female gender stereotypes in the framing of ISIS’s suicide bombers in American and Middle Eastern newspapers. American and Middle Eastern newspapers are reinforcing gender stereotypes which is in line with what previous literature has found. Even though gender stereotypes are certainly present in Middle Eastern newspapers, they are aware of the presence of gender stereotypes. They challenge and contradict these traditional stereotypes. In order to tackle the issue of ISIS’s female suicide bombers we need a thorough understanding of this phenomenon. With the newspapers reinforcing gender stereotypes, it is hard to create a thorough understanding of this phenomenon. This will hinder the prevention of female suicide attacks and the development of measures against female suicide bombers.