Interview with Gulfer Ulas

PhD Candidate in International Relations at Kadir Has University, Istanbul

Can you tell us a bit about your career journey? 

I am a PhD candidate in the International Relations department at the Kadir Has University, Istanbul. My research focuses on female radicalisation in ISIS and the ways in which women are perceived throughout various forms of discourse.

I have been interested in security-related subjects for a long time. In 2011, I have attended KCL’s summer school programme on Managing International Conflicts: International security and Institutions, and prepared written works on women and conflict subjects. However, my curiosity was intensified during my MA. Whilst I was researching growing security threats in Europe between 2015 and 2017, it was a very eventful year. The high number of female attendees in contemporary terror groups, particularly for ISIS, was constantly on the news. And I guess I got dragged in by the headlines!

Do you think that gender discrimination affects your area of research/work at all, and if so, what do you do to deal with and overcome this?

Security and terrorism-related subjects are usually considered a field of male-dominated expertise. I would not say gender discrimination is the main reason for that, but women’s participation in terror groups is now attracting more women researchers than before. In recent years, there is a growing community of amazing female colleagues working in the field where men have distinguished themselves. I haven’t personally experienced gender discrimination, but I do find that many events in this field have mostly male speakers (which I do not approve of). I think promoting worldwide awareness on this, supporting female colleagues in both online and offline platforms, and integrating more women in the security sector is very needed to cope with this.

Can you tell us a bit about any recent specific project(s) you have worked on or that you are particularly proud of?

I have initially felt engaged to the subject by ICSVE’s Breaking the ISIS Brand Counter Narrative Project, led by Anne Speckhard. Alongside my duty, I have read around 60 scripts of ISIS fighter’s interviews, and translated some of them for ICSVE’s YouTube channel. This was an important one for me: it enabled me to get great insights into the mind of jihadists.

The second and probably the most exciting one was my visit to the detained female foreign fighters of ISIS in Istanbul’s Repatriation Center in October 2020. It was my personal desire to have a primary interview with women. Up until then, I had come across many interviews and videos in media reporting, but I have never assumed that it would be such a penetrating experience that took me days to recover mentally. I think it got me on how the motivations and vulnerabilities of these young women ended up with a terrorist organization. I will never forget this experience and their touching stories.

WIWIP is currently hosting a workshop series to tackle issues like Imposter Syndrome and achieving professional fulfilment. Do you have any specific ways in which you deal with things like self-doubt and feelings of inadequacy?

I think there is a nice quote that summarises the situation; “Comparison is the thief of joy”. We never know how people are experiencing their own stories. Frankly, there is nothing to do with other’s success or failures. There is already enough pressure on each of us by quite heavy studies and the pandemic makes this situation worse. I guess I am aware that my colleagues are not my rivals. My work will have so many ups and downs so will others. And it is still less terrifying if we stand by each other.

Are there any specific women who have inspired you?

There are so many amazing women who have influenced my life – family members and feminist icons alike – but as it’s an academic platform, I would like to name some who continues to shape my thinking and my work: Simon de Beauvoir, Mary Wollstonecraft, Hannah Arendt, and Susan Sontag. I love reading philosophical underpinnings of social and political issues, so I feel an even stronger admiration for them.

What does International Women’s Day mean to you? How do you celebrate it?

To me, true feminism is not about to sitting around and moaning about the lack of opportunity in women’s lives, but rather, actively encouraging other women to get the most of everything they can. This is why I think International Women’s Day is so important. In many parts of the world, the majority of people living in poverty are women. Women earn only 10% of the world’s income and own less than 1% of the world’s property. Over 800 women die from pregnancy-related illness, mostly in developing countries. And violence against women is responsible for more deaths, and disability in women 15-44 aged globally than cancer, malaria, car accidents. We need International Women’s Day to remind us that our work is not done yet.

With our support, women across the world can gain the confidence to build their own business and attain true independence. IWD is not just a one day. It is a catalyst for the change. There are many ways to get involved whether its fundraising, or donating unwanted goods to charity shops - this is what I do.

What advice would you give to women students who wish to work in the same field as you?

I would have to say studying terrorism and violent extremism subjects can be depressing. So often, you find yourselves watching extreme videos, and engaging with violent content as part of your daily routine. After a while, it gets into you in your normal life. It is essential to take short breaks and step back from it when you can. Also, I would you encourage to read outside your discipline, share your work, and embrace the critique. Most importantly, allow yourself time for hobbies. I think meditation, music, and artwork are like magic!