ABSTRACT
This chapter seeks to understand the paths taken by a group of Muslim women into HT radicalism. Painting a picture of this largely unknown subject requires insight into the influences within home, school and wider society. The British media often depict Muslim women as victims of cultural and religious fundamentalism, in desperate need of western emancipation. The passing of traditional values and norms to offspring is seen as a way to reproduce and continue a connection with the land of origin. However, as the life-stories drawn from both male and female HT members have shown, activists struggled to reconcile the diverse nature of the two opposing cultural worlds they inhabited. Living in a social environment in which prejudice is reinforced towards a minority group has been shown to have deep psychological impact on the development of young people. According to Howe, peer groups have a psychology that overwhelms the individual.
