IN RECENT YEARS IN THE NONCOMMUNIST COUNTRIES, FEMALES INVOLVED IN TERRORISM HAVE SHIFTED FROM SUPPORT FUNCTIONS (INTELLIGENCE COURIERS OR COLLECTORS, NURSES, DOCTORS, DOCUMENT FORGERS, AND SAFEHOUSE KEEPERS) TO ACTIVE OPERATIONAL ROLES IN MURDER, ARSON, ROBBERY, KIDNAPPING, MAIMING, AND BOMBING. IN 1970, FEMALE PARTICIPATION IN ASSASSINATION, KIDNAPPING, HIJACKING, AND ATTACKS ON FACILITIES WAS UNDER 12 PERCENT; IN 1978, 21 PERCENT. EUROPE AND LATIN AMERICA HAD THE HIGHEST RATES OF FEMALE PARTICIPATION. FEMALE PARTICIPATION HAS INCREASED IN ALL TYPES OF TERRORISM EXCEPT HIJACKING. THE HIGHEST RATE OF FEMALE PARTICIPATION HAS BEEN IN MAIMINGS. USE OF WOMEN IN TERRORIST OPERATIONS REFLECTS LEADERS' RECOGNITION THAT WOMEN ON TERRORIST TEAMS CAN REDUCE POLICE SUSPICION, AID ACCESS TO THE TARGET, AND INCREASE THE OPERATION'S CHANCE OF SUCCESS. DATA ON 204 FEMALE TERRORISTS INCDICATE THAT THEY ARE USUALLY YOUNG (MEAN AGE 25 YEARS), SINGLE OR DIVORCED, FROM MIDDLE OR UPPER CLASS HOMES, AND FREQUENTLY UNIVERSITY TRAINED. THE FOUR MOST SIGNIFICANT MOTIVATIONS FOR THEIR INVOLVEMENT ARE (1) INVOLVEMENT OF FRIENDS OR FAMILY MEMBERS, (2) DESIRE FOR REVENGE RESULTING FROM ARREST OR DEATH OF A LOVED ONE, (3) RADICAL POLITICAL BELIEFS, AND (4) DESIRE TO DOMINATE OTHERS, ESPECIALLY MEN. BECAUSE OF ITS EFFECTIVENESS AND THE CONTINUING TENDENCY OF SECURITY OFFICIALS TO THINK OF TERRORISTS AS MALES, FEMALE INVOLVEMENT IN TERRORISM IS LIKELY TO CONTINUE. FIGURES AND FOOTNOTES ARE INCLUDED. FOR A SIMILAR ANALYSIS ON TERRORISTS IN GENERAL SEE NCJ-63620. (CFW)