The term “lone wolf” often conjures up images of a solitary male figure, but in recent years, cases of women adopting the lone wolf mentality have come to light. So what exactly constitutes a lone wolf, and can a woman fit this description? Let’s explore the facts.
What is a lone wolf?
A lone wolf is someone who prepares and commits violent acts alone, outside of any command structure or organization. They operate independently and in secrecy, making them very difficult for law enforcement to track. Some key characteristics of lone wolves include:
- They act alone without assistance from any group or organization
- They plan and execute attacks entirely by themselves
- They are isolated and disconnected from personal relationships
- They often self-radicalize through online extremist content
- They seek recognition for their acts to promote an ideology or cause
Lone wolf attacks are rare but can result in mass casualties due to the element of surprise. Famous lone wolf examples include the Unabomber Ted Kaczynski and Norwegian right-wing extremist Anders Behring Breivik.
Can women be lone wolves?
Absolutely. While the majority of lone wolf attackers are male, women are equally capable of adopting the lone wolf mentality and tactics. Here are some key points on women who follow the lone wolf path:
- Women lone wolves account for around 10% of attacks between 1968-2020 in the U.S. according to one study.
- Examples include Jennifer Sanmarco who killed 7 people at a postal facility in 2006, and Deborah Dorothea Pauly who made pipe bombs and planned to attack infrastructure.
- Women who become lone wolves are often motivated by personal reasons like losing custody of children rather than just ideology.
- As misogyny and white supremacy grow online, more women could self-radicalize in the future.
- Women may have advantages in preparing attacks secretly due to gender stereotypes of women being harmless.
The rise of extremist content and online communities has made the lone wolf threat more democratic. Lone actors who feel socially isolated can now connect with toxic ideologies that spur them to violence.
Case studies of women lone wolves
Looking at examples of women who have engaged in lone wolf attacks or plotting helps illustrate their motivations and capabilities:
Jennifer Sanmarco
- In 2006, she shot and killed 7 people at the Goleta postal processing and distribution center in California.
- She was a former postal worker who had been put on medical leave for mental issues.
- Her motivation appeared to be revenge against her perceived mistreatment by colleagues.
- She had isolated herself from family and friends in prior years.
- She committed suicide after her attack when police located her.
Deborah Dorothea Pauly
- A doctor from California, she built pipe bombs and acquired firearms to target infrastructure.
- She planned to attack highways, rail lines, and utility grids in protest of government surveillance.
- She was arrested in 2020 after buying materials for explosives from undercover FBI agents.
- She appears to have become self-radicalized through online conspiracy theories.
- Prosecutors described her as committing “lone wolf” crimes before her arrest disrupted her plans.
These cases highlight how women from professional backgrounds can turn to extremist violence due to mental health issues and online radicalization.
How women lone wolves compare to men
Studying differences between how male and female lone wolves operate can reveal insights into their motivations:
| Male Lone Wolves | Female Lone Wolves |
|---|---|
| Majority of lone wolf attacks (over 90%) | Small minority of attacks (under 10%) |
| Driven by ideology and hatred of specific groups | Often driven by personal reasons and grievances |
| Higher fatality rates in attacks | Attacks have injured more than killed |
| Suicide rate of 40% after attacks | Almost no suicides |
As this comparison shows, men tend to focus on body counts and go into attacks seeing it as a final act. Women seem more motivated by resolving personal problems or drawing attention to an issue rather than mass fatalities.
Challenges identifying women threats
Women lone wolves often go undetected more easily than men. Some factors that make identifying women lone wolves difficult include:
- Stereotype of women being gentle and non-violent allows them to avoid suspicion.
- Signs of self-radicalization may be dismissed as unimportant mood changes.
- Weapons possession and bomb making viewed as unusual hobbies for women.
- Friends and family oblivious or in denial of extremist leanings.
- Remote, isolated planning harder to detect without personal connections.
These blind spots cause security services and the public to overlook the threat posed by women radicalizing in isolation. Remote communities that foster hate and model violence can easily draw in both men and women looking for purpose.
How women become lone wolves
The path that leads women to become lone wolf attackers often shares some common steps:
- Isolation – Withdrawing from family, friends, and the community due to a crisis or mental health issues.
- Radicalization – Encountering extremist ideologies online that resonate with personal struggles.
- Planning – Secretly acquiring weapons and explosives to prepare a lone wolf attack.
- Timing – Waiting for an opportune moment to execute the attack for maximum impact.
- Attack – Carrying out violence to kill or injure perceived enemies.
Identifying when an individual is on this pathway before they turn to violence is crucial to prevent future attacks. But the lone wolf nature makes this difficult without close personal ties.
Can lone wolf attacks be prevented?
Preventing lone wolf attacks poses a serious challenge for law enforcement and communities. However, some measures can help reduce risks:
- Monitoring online extremist communities to identify potential radicals.
- Following up concerning behavior reports quickly and thoroughly.
- Counseling and social services for at-risk individuals.
- Restricting access to weapons and bomb-making materials.
- Community-led efforts to prevent radicalization.
- Mental health support to manage personal crises.
Given the unpredictable nature of lone wolf plots, early intervention is critical before isolation and radicalization take hold. Friends and family speaking out about unusual behavior could make a life-saving difference.
Conclusion
Women are fully capable of becoming lone wolf attackers, even if they currently account for a small percentage of cases. As online radicalization spreads, women’s lone wolf plots are likely to grow along with men’s. Only by acknowledging the equal threat posed by women radicals and providing them support before isolation sets in can the lone wolf risk be reduced for all genders.