ALM

Abstract

Abstract The aim of this chapter is to situate the masculinities evident in narratives participants told about pivotal moments in their lives before their association with the al-Muhajiroun network. Masculinities emerge as constructed in three ways: in geographic space, in particular a hypermasculine street culture echoing that of radical right radicalization; through a process of gendered meta-reflexivity that constitutes the “identity crisis” of radicalization literature; and in the discursive space constructed post-9/11 through the gendered securitization of Muslims and Islam. The chapter therefore expands radicalization theories’ understanding of identity crisis: here it is less “crisis,” more cumulative process. Reflexivity is constant, and while there appears to be a pivotal moment for each participant, this cannot be predicted. The chapter explores how gender is fundamental in that process, given that participants internalize conflicting masculinity systems and conflicting normative gender frameworks. As with the radical right, this means that gender and sexual norms are important in distinguishing in- from out-group. The chapter also introduces the Islamist participants, and their backgrounds.