This report by ‘international alert’ focuses on gender roles and their consequences for the rise in violent extremism in the Sahel region. The results show that men are targeted more often than women. However, women are indirectly victimized. In the face of structural violence and poverty, armed groups “strive to establish rules
and institutions to discipline communities and institute power relations in accordance with their ideology.” The said groups do not attempt to change social reality and “deeply rooted social norms” radically, which makes it appear as though the domination imposed is acceptable for rural populations, although, in fact, marginalization of women and educational deprivation becomes “exacerbated by the violent extremists.”