NCJ Number
54519
Date Published
1978
Length
9 pages
Annotation
THE EFFECTS OF CLASS-SPECIFIC LEARNING PROCESSES AND EXPERIENCES ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF WEST GERMAN WOMEN TERRORISTS' BEHAVIOR ARE OUTLINED.
Abstract
THE UPPER CLASSES FROM WHICH A LARGE NUMBER OF FEMALE TERRORISTS ORIGINATE CAN MORE THAN ANY OTHER CLASS PROJECT THEIR CONFLICTS ON THEIR ENVIRONMENT. AT THE SAME TIME, NO OTHER CLASS IS SO DISDAINFUL OF WOMEN: I.E., WHILE CONSIDERED INTELLIGENT, WOMEN ARE NOT REGARDED AS CAPABLE OF MAKING THE RATIONAL DECISIONS REQUIRED FOR LEADERSHIP POSITIONS IN BUSINESS BECAUSE OF THEIR OSTENSIBLE EMOTIONAL INSTABILITY AND WOMEN ARE NEEDED BY MALE LEADERS TO TAKE CARE OF BUSY-WORK AND PRODUCE HEIRS, RECEIVING IN RETURN MATERIAL GOODS WHICH REFLECT FAVORABLY ON THE MEN'S POSITIONS. CHILDREN ARE RAISED TO SATISFY CERTAIN ROLES WITHOUT CONCERN FOR THEIR EMOTIONAL NEEDS. CONFLICTS ARE TYPICAL IN THIS UPBRINGING, E.G., PROSPERITY VERSUS A MORALITY THAT STRESSES ABSTINENCE FOR THE SAKE OF DUTY. THE CONTRAST BETWEEN NORMS AND PRACTICE BECOMES APPARENT, PARTICULARLY TO WELL-EDUCATED FEMALE CHILDREN, WHO HAVE NEITHER APPROPRIATE ROLE MODELS NOR FUTURE PROSPECTS. THEY DISCOVER, USUALLY DURING UNIVERSITY STUDIES, THAT THE EMPHASIS ON RESTRAINT, SENSITIVITY TO THE NEEDS OF OTHERS, AND SACRIFICE HAS NOT CONDITIONED THEM FOR MALE CAREERS. THEY ARE DRAWN INTO TERRORIST GROUPS, WHERE THEY MUST PROVE THEIR SOLIDARITY WITH OTHERS AND THEIR REJECTION OF THE SUPERFICIAL WORLD, AS WELL AS THEIR WILLINGNESS TO SACRIFICE THROUGH TERRORIST DEEDS. THE WORLD CREATED BY THEIR FATHERS IS ORIENTED AS NEVER BEFORE TOWARD ECONOMIC GROWTH, WHILE THE YOUNGER GENERATION HAS NEVER BEEN SO POORLY PREPARED TO SOLVE COMPLEX PROBLEMS. THE GIRLS FROM THESE FAMILIES STAGE PROTESTS AS AN ATTEMPT TO CHANGE THE WORLD OF THE OLDER GENERATION. TERRORISM IS THUS VIEWED AS THE DESPAIRING, VIOLENT ANSWER OF A YOUNGER GENERATION WITHOUT HOPE; ONLY REINTEGRATION OF FEMALE ELEMENTS INTO THE MALE WORLD CAN RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. NOTES ARE SUPPLIED. - IN GERMAN (KMD)