"Fundamentalist, Mentally Unstable, Male": A Gendered Analysis of Fear of Terrorism and Crime in Canada.

This article examines gendered perceptions of terrorism in Canada, focusing on differences in fear and perceived risk of terrorist victimization between women and men. Using a mixed-methods approach with 262 Canadian participants, the study finds that women report significantly higher fear of terrorism and perceive a greater likelihood of being targeted by terrorist acts than men, while men are more likely to associate terrorism with mental illness. The research highlights that women tend to view terrorism as intentional, gendered violence—particularly linked to ideologies such as those of the "incel" community—rather than random acts by mentally ill individuals. These findings suggest that gender shapes how terrorism and terrorists are understood in Canada, underscoring the need for nuanced, gender-sensitive approaches in research, policy, and public discourse on terrorism.