| abstract |
White women in organized racist and antisemitic movements in the United States are under-researched by scholars across multiple disciplines. While studies on far-right extremism in the U.S. continue to increase exponentially, decades of narrowed analyses on hate groups' histories, their most violent male members, and charismatic male leaders created a dangerous gap in understanding women's roles within far-right extremist groups. Additionally, the inherent patriarchal structures of such groups, coupled with the male-centric focus by scholars and the media, left the impression that women's roles are historically of little importance or impact. A closer look at women's involvement revealed this common generalization untrue.
This study analyzes the narratives and efforts of four racist activist women between 1930-2020, who demonstrate the significance of white women's involvement in extremism, and how their work and participation contribute to movements' growth and efficacy. Like their male counterparts, women find a sense of community, significance, or a 'greater purpose' outside themselves once radicalized and believe they are protecting the broader white race with their activism. Extremist women operate as bridge leaders within movements. They help with recruitment efforts, softening racist and antisemitic groups' public images, serve as martyrs and victims of so-called 'white genocide' to legitimize hate movements' activism, and maintain generations of white supremacist ideology and 'race warriors' inside and outside the home. White women in racist and antisemitic movements are crucial to sustaining far-right extremist groups in the United States.
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