Beyond Knitting and Baking: The Gendered Experience of Indonesian Terrorists’ Imprisonment

This chapter discusses the experiences of three Indonesian women involved in terrorist cases prior to, during, and after their incarceration. It argues that the complex interplay between the legacy of coloniality, patriarchy, and state’s rehabilitation programs result in “othering” practices toward extremist women. This contributes in failure to address women’s engagement to terrorism and hinder women’s successful societal reintegration due to associated social stigma. Using a life history narrative approach, the chapter draws from in-depth interviews with the three women to examine their experiences in the Indonesian postcolonial and patriarchal criminal justice system. It illuminates the challenges encountered by women committing terrorist acts during their gendered rehabilitation and deradicalization programs, underscoring the need for a more gender-sensitive approach in addressing the underlying causes of women’s involvement in terrorism. Lastly, this chapter advocates the significance of adopting a feminist and postcolonial perspective to comprehend the experiences of extremist women, offering valuable insights for the development of gender-responsive policies and interventions.