Violent Extremism in the Philippines: The Gendered Crisis
Violent extremism in the Philippines is not just a security issue, but a deeply gendered crisis that disproportionately impacts women and girls. Extremist groups such as Abu Sayyaf and ISIS-affiliated factions in Mindanao have weaponized gender norms to recruit, exploit, and oppress women. These groups use economic insecurity, social isolation, and misogynistic ideologies to radicalize both men and women, fueling cycles of violence and oppression. Even those who escape conflict zones continue to suffer, facing displacement, stigma, and a lack of economic opportunities. Without targeted interventions addressing the economic implications that cause violent extremism, the Philippines risks further entrenching the conditions that allow these groups to thrive.
In the Philippines, there is a positive correlation between support for violent extremism and misogyny. Women are particularly susceptible to violent extremism because groups use economic insecurity and the guise of safety to target women. 47% of Filipino women agree that women need a male guardian for protection. Extremist groups distort this idea to radicalize men and women and induce support. This has created an environment where women are used as both bargaining tools and perpetrators for violent extremism.
In 2017, the Islamic State (IS) took siege in Marawi City, Mindanao and captured civilians to use as domestic slaves. In 2024, ISIS-affiliated groups in Mindanao have forced women and girls into sexual slavery. These groups directly target women because they view them as tools for exploitation, recruitment, and control. Women and girls are often targeted to serve as forced brides or domestic laborers and violence is committed against them to reinforce the groups' camaraderie. Even women that escape the conflict zone have suffered, as more than 50% of the 700,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) are women and children. At these IDP camps they have little access to food and water and lost contact with their loved ones. When women flee from conflict-ridden areas, they are highly vulnerable to trafficking due to their evacuation areas lacking gender-sensitivity.
Female survivors of violence at the hands of violent extremist groups or the aftermath are heavily ostracized by their community. Filipino women are often forced to marry their perpetrator or remain silent to prevent this. Violent extremist groups have exploited women’s socioeconomic insecurity and recruited them. Filipino women have increasingly become suicide bombers, recruiters, finance and logistics facilitators. These groups have used female anger at injustices to recruit women. Without properly addressing the socioeconomic factors that lead to women’s involvement in violent extremism, these groups will continue to exploit their vulnerabilities.
When these women are forced to marry their perpetrator, live in camps without adequate resources, or suffer from further violence, their resentment grows which these groups actively target. The state must implement targeted interventions, such as economic empowerment programs and investing in education and vocational training; Filipino women will remain at risk of radicalization and exploitation. Addressing these root causes is critical to breaking the cycle of extremism and ensuring long-term security and stability in conflict-affected regions. By 2027, there should be an increase of women in the labor force by 5%. Only when the Philippines invests in its women can the government hope for an end to violent extremism.