Toplumsal Cinsiyet Bağlamında Kadın Stereotipinin İmgeleşmesi

Abstract

This thesis aims to analyze the cultural and artistic representations of female stereotypes within the framework of gender, examining their impact on individuals and society. It delves into the origins of the concept of stereotype, exploring how the roles assigned to women within societal structures, particularly through mass media and art, are disseminated and by whom. The research investigates how women have been stereotyped throughout historical and cultural processes in the context of gender, drawing on Walter Lippmann’s metaphor of “the pictures in our heads.” The study reveals how societal norms, expectations, and traditional values are shaped through social spaces such as family, educational institutions, and media. Another aim of this study is to reveal how these stereotypes restrict women's freedom of movement in both personal and social spheres and how gender roles are reflected in the representations of women in art. The thesis analyzes the portrayal of women in media and art, exploring the patriarchal dominance over female identity and the concept of hegemonic masculinity. The study examines the historical origins of gender roles in contemporary societies and assesses their impact on art, media, and everyday life from a feminist perspective. In this context, the thesis argues that gender stereotypes are culturally reproduced, and that stereotypical images provide expression in the artistic representation of women. It also addresses the impact of gender roles on women’s individual existence through artworks and artists' creations, highlighting the psychological and social limitations these roles impose within society and cultural realms. In this regard, the thesis produces images that explore the effects of gender and its restrictions through the concept of stereotypes. These images visualize the impositions related to women's societal roles, their search for individual freedom, and inner conflicts through symbols and metaphors. Thus, the artworks aim to create a space for questioning on both individual and societal levels.