Abstract | This study seeks to determine the motivations of female suicide terrorists. Based on a variety of existing literature, I develop three hypotheses. The first two hypothesize about the motivations of the female suicide bombers (ideology and personal experiences); the third hypothesizes about a necessary factor, but not motivation, for the attack (group attachment). To study this, I look at five women in the Palestinian Israeli conflict who were successful in their suicide attacks. Within each case, I do a content analysis of all available data regarding the women. Upon completion of the research, I determine that the motivations of female suicide terrorists are not singular, but rather a combination of multiple motivations as well as facilitating factors. |