Ergenlik Döneminde İzlenen Türk Dizileri ve Kadınlarda Beden İmajının İnşasına İlişkin Bir Nitel Araştırma

Abstract

Adolescence is a critical period of intense relationship with gender norms and the body. Although the process of body image construction in this period is intertwined with many factors, the question of how body representations in the TV series are related to this process comes to the fore. Here, this study aims to examine the experiences of women who have a master's degree in the field of gender in watching TV series during adolescence. It aims to understand how they retrospectively interpret the place of female body representations in TV series in their body image constructions. Also, it aims to understand the place of current gender awareness in the way they interpret these past experiences. By using feminist methodology, qualitative interviews were conducted with 20 women aged between 25 and 43 and graduates of Hacettepe University Women and Gender Studies master's program. The findings were analyzed around 4 themes. These themes are as follows: Norms and Evaluations Shaped by Patriarchal Roots (1), Body Image Negativized by Sexist Norms (2), Reshaping the Body with Masculine Domination (3) and Creating a Positive Body Image in the Face of Sexist Norms (4). According to the results, the representation and evaluation of female characters in most of the TV series that the participants followed during that time was based on their physical appearance. The female character is tried to be trapped into beauty criterias change according to circumstances, and the characters who do not fit norm are presented with stereotypical and inadequate representations. These were not limited to the TV series; the participants were also subjected to pressure over their bodies at that time. However, the media's diversification and having feminist beliefs played an important role in creating a positive body image. In this framework, suggestions are presented to create alternative media representations from a feminist perspective.