This report emphasizes that although laudable, in practice the ‘gender mainstreaming’ of CVE has become synonymous with women. Consequently, how violent extremist groups promote certain masculinities to recruit and retain members receives little attention. It notes how Islamist and right-wing violent extremist groups exploit militarized or toxic masculinities. This is problematic because CVE efforts should focus greater attention on how to promote positive or peaceful masculinities in order to adequately address grievances surrounding male identity. The authors further argue that efforts to mainstream gender have not critically examined the structural gendered and racialized hierarchies, inequalities and assumptions within counterterrorism institutions.