The Deconstruction of Patriarchal Honor in Turkish Cinema: An Analysis Of Female Characters Resisting Patriarchy Across Three Genres
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5195/cinej.2025.672Keywords:
women, body, honour killing, patriarchy, gender, TurkeyAbstract
In Turkish society, as in all patriarchal communities dominated by an honor culture, the concept of honor, while holding different implications for men and women, is largely reduced to the strict control of women’s bodies. This article examines examples of feminist cinema that challenge the stereotypical portrayal of honor in popular Turkish cinema, which mirror the androcentric values of society. The fiction film Mine (1982), the short film Derin Nefes Al (Take a Deep Breath, 2012), and the documentary Bekleyiş (Expecting a Grain of Sand, 2021) were selected through purposive sampling for inclusion in this study. The study employs qualitative content analysis to examine the female protagonists who resist patriarchal honor codes in the selected long fiction, short fiction, and documentary films produced across different periods.
References
Abdo, N. (2006). Namus cinayetleri, ataerkilli ve devlet: İsrail’de kadın. In Mojab, S. & Abdo, N. (Eds.), Namus Adına Şiddet Kuramsal ve Siyasal Yaklaşımlar (pp. 97-106). İstanbul Bilgi Üniversitesi Yayınları.
Abisel, N. (2005). Türk sineması üzerine yazılar. Phoenix.
Adak, N. (2022). The Representation of Honor Killings in Turkish Media. Folklor/Edebiyat, 28(112), 927-944. https://doi.org/10.22559/folklor.2203
Akbaba, Z. B. (2008). Töre, namus ve töre saikiyle kasten öldürme. TBB Dergisi, 75, 333-351. http://portal.ubap.org.tr/app_themes/dergi/2008-75-412.pdf
Akbulut, H. (2008). Kadına melodram yakışır. Bağlam.
Akbulut, H. (2012). Yeşilçam’dan yeni türk sinemasına melodramatik imgelem. Hayalperest.
Akser, M. (2018). Halit Refig’s I lost my heart to a Turk: Woman, Islam and modernity in Turkish cinema. CINEJ Cinema Journal, 7(1), 5–29. https://doi.org/10.5195/cinej.2018.223
Altınay, A. G. (2007). Bedenimiz ve biz: Bekâret ve cinselliğin siyaseti. In Bora, A. & Günal, A. (Eds.), 90’larda Türkiye’de Feminizm (2nd ed., pp.323-343). İletişim.
Atakav, E. (2015). ‘Honour is everything for Muslims’? Vendetta Song, Filmic Representation, Religious Identity and Gender Politics in Turkey. In: Savigny, H., Warner, H. (eds) The Politics of Being a Woman. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137384669_3
Atakav, E. (2013). Women and Turkish cinema: Gender politics, cultural identity and representation. Routledge.
Awwad, A.M. (2011). Virginity control and gender-based violence in Turkey: social constructionism of patriarchy, masculinity, and sexual purity. International Journal of Humanities and Social Science, 1(15), 105-110. https://www.ijhssnet.com/journals/Vol_1_No_15_Special_Issue_October_2011/13.pdf
Bağlı, M. (2008). Töre ve/veya namus adına cinayet işleyen suçlu ve zanlıların sahip oldukları toplumsal değer yapıları, aile ilişkileri ve kişilik özellikleri ile bunların sosyoekonomik analizine ilişkin bir araştırma (Proje No: 106K360). TÜBİTAK.
Büker, S. & Uluyağcı, C. (1993). Yeşilçam’da bir sultan. Afa.
Ceylan, S., Doğulu, C., & Akbaş Uslu, G., (2016). Namus adına kadına yönelik şiddete dair sosyal temsiller: Karma yöntemli bir çalışma. Türk Psikoloji Yazıları, 19 (Özel Sayı), 50-63. https://psikolog.org.tr/tr/yayinlar/dergiler/1031828/tpy1301996120160000m000046.pdf?v=1701162381
Cindoğlu, D. (1997). Virginity tests and artificial virginity in modern Turkish medicine. Women's Studies International Forum, 20(2), 253–261. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0277-5395(96)00096-9
Cindoğlu, D. (2011). Modern Türk tıbbında bekâret testleri ve suni bekâret. In İlkkaracan, P. & Güney, T. (Eds.), Müslüman Toplumlarda Kadın ve Cinsellik (pp. 115-132). İletişim.
Cindoğlu, D. (2013). Mine nasıl kurtulur? 4 Şubat 1983. In Doğu, E. & Ovadia, S. (Eds.), Yazko Somut 4. Sayfa İlk Feminist Yazılar (pp. 111-112). Somut.
Connell, R. W. (2019). Toplumsal cinsiyet ve iktidar. Cem Soydemir (Trans.). Ayrıntı.
Çelik, F. (2011). Modernleşme serüvenimiz ve yeşilçam. Sanat Dergisi (17), 31-37. https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/download/article-file/29004
Dilmaç, JA (2014). "“Our” honor and “their” honor: The case of honor killings in Turkey" In Texler Segal, M. and Demos, V. (Eds.) Gendered Perspectives on Conflict and Violence: Part B. Emerald. https://doi.org/10.1108/S1529-21262014000018B014
Ellialtı, T. (2012). Evlilik öncesi cinsellik, bekaret ve beden disiplini: kadınların “aşk”
üzerinden cinsel ahlak mücadelesi. Cogito 70-71, 371-397. https://doi.org/10.33417/tsh.572226
Emre Müezzin, E., Üzül, G. & Yiğit, C. (2023). Toplumda kadına yönelik namus algısının incelenmesi. Sosyal ve Beşeri Bilimler Dergisi, 15(1), 65-78. https://doi.org/10.55978/sobiadsbd.1230224
Engels, F. (2001). The origin of the family, private property and the state. Wellred Books.
Foucault, M. (2015). Cinselliğin tarihi (6th ed.). Hülya Uğur Tanrıöver (Trans.). Ayrıntı.
Frank, M.W., Bauer, H.M., Arican, N., Fincancı, Ş.K., & Iacopino, V. (1999). Virginity examinations in Turkey: role of forensic physicians in controlling female sexuality. JAMA, 282(5), 485-490. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.282.5.485
Gezici Yalçın, M., & Tanrıverdi, V. (2018). “Kavanozu açan” erkeklerle “kafasını kullanabilen” kadınlar: erkek üniversite öğrencilerinin erkeklik müzakereleri. Masculinities: A Journal of Identity and Culture (9-10), 129-167. https://dergipark.org.tr/en/download/article-file/654731
Güçhan, G. (1993). Toplumsal değişme ve türk sineması: Kente göç eden insanın Türk sinemasında değişen profili. İmge.
Güçlü, Ö. (2010). Silent representations of women in the new cinema of Turkey. Sinecine: Sinema Araştırmaları Dergisi, 1(2), 71-85. https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/download/article-file/707536
Gürbilek, N. (2014). Vitrinde yaşamak: 1980'lerin kültürel iklimi (7th ed.). Metis.
Gürkan, H., & Biga, N. T. (2022). Women’s narratives inhibiting scopophilic and voyeuristic views: woman as the saviour in contemporary Turkish women’s films. Feminist Media Studies, 23(5), 2407–2422. https://doi.org/10.1080/14680777.2022.2055106
Hamzaoğlu, M., & Konuralp, E. (2019). Geleneksel toplumlarda namus olgusu ve namus cinayeti: Türkiye örneği. Kadın Araştırmaları Dergisi, 1(18), 51-65. https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/download/article-file/718108
International Association of Forensic Nurses (2022). Virginity Testing. Journal of Forensic Nursing, 18(4), E38–E40. https://doi.org/10.1097/JFN.0000000000000404
İlkkaracan, İ. (2011). Giriş: Müslüman toplumlarda kadın ve cinsellik. In İlkkaracan, P. and Güney, T. (Eds.), Müslüman Toplumlarda Kadın Ve Cinsellik (pp. 11-32). İletişim.
İlkkaracan, İ. & Seral, G. (2011). Kadının insan hakkı olarak cinsel haz: Türkiye'deki bir taban eğitimi programından deneyimler. In
İlkkaracan, P. & Güney, T. (Eds.), Müslüman Toplumlarda Kadın Ve Cinsellik (pp. 195-206). İletişim.
Ilkmen, N. (2024). Honor in the Meditteranean: A Comparative Narrative Analysis of Malena (2000) and Mine (1982). Journal of Feminist Family Therapy, 36(1–2), 43–66. https://doi.org/10.1080/08952833.2024.2345419
Kalav, A. (2012). Namus ve toplumsal cinsiyet. Akdeniz İnsani Bilimler Dergisi, 2(2), 151-163. https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/download/article-file/3718139
Kalav, A. (2019). Sevgi, sadakat ve güven söylemlerinde namusun izini sürmek: öztahakküm aracı olarak namus. Akdeniz Kadın Çalışmaları Ve Toplumsal Cinsiyet Dergisi, 2(2), 211-237. https://doi.org/10.33708/ktc.642796
Kandiyoti, D. (2013). Cariyeler bacılar yurttaşlar (4th ed.). Metis.
Kırel, S. (2005). Yeşilçam öykü sineması. Babil.
Kogacioglu, D. (2004). The Tradition Effect: Framing Honor Crimes in Turkey. differences 15(2): 118–151. https://doi.org/10.1215/10407391-15-2-118
Köseoğlu, A., (2023). Türk sinemasında namus olgusunun kadın üzerinden temsili: "Yürek Yarası" ve "Kurbağalar" filmlerinin analizi. In
Ayhan, B. & Baloğlu, E. (Eds.), Medya Ve Kadın (pp.53-93). Tablet.
Kuran (2024). Kur'an-ı Kerim, https://www.kuran.diyanet.gov.tr Accessed 01.07.2024
Kuyucak Esen, Ş. (2010). Türk sinemasının kilometre taşları (3rd ed.). İstanbul: Agora.
Kuyucak Esen, Ş. (2019). 80'ler Türkiyesi'nde sinema (3rd ed.). İstanbul: Su.
Mernissi, F. (2011). Bekaret ve ataerki. In İlkkaracan, P. & Güney, T. (Eds.), Müslüman Toplumlarda Kadın Ve Cinsellik (pp. 99-113). İletişim.
Mulvey, L. (1975). Visual pleasure and narrative cinema. Screen, 16(3), 6–18. https://doi.org/10.1093/screen/16.3.6
Oliver, K. (2012). Knock me up, knock me down: Images of pregnancy in Hollywood films. Columbia University Press.
Onaran, A. Ş. (1995). Türk sineması II. Cilt. Kitle.
Oskay, Ü. (2014). Mine filmi ve ‘Türkan Sultan’ın soyunarak giyinmesi... [Somut, 13 Mayıs 1983]. In Tek Kişilik Haçlı Seferleri (pp. 19-24). İnkılap.
Ozansoy, N. (2022). Hegemonik erkeklik bağlamında erkeklerin cinsellik ve bekaret hakkındaki düşünceleri ve tutumları. İmgelem, 6(10), 307-330. https://doi.org/10.53791/imgelem.1069942
Özen, F. (2021). Changes in Women’s Representations in Turkish Cinema from the 1980s to the Early 1990s. CINEJ Cinema Journal, 9(2), 286–320. https://doi.org/10.5195/cinej.2021.450
Özgüç, A. (1988). Türk sinemasında cinselliğin tarihi. Broy.
Parla, A. (2001). The “honor” of the state: virginty examinations in Turkey. Feminist Studies, 27(1), 65-88. https://doi.org/10.2307/3178449
Sakallı Uğurlu, N. (2016). Namus kültürlerinde kadına yönelik şiddeti yordayan sosyal psikolojik faktörler (Proje No: 114K347). TÜBİTAK.
Sakallı Uğurlu, N. & Akbaş, G. (2013). Namus kültürlerinde ‘namus’ ve ‘namus adına kadına şiddet’: sosyal psikolojik açıklamalar. Türk Psikoloji Yazıları, 16(32), 76-91.
Scognamillo, G. (2003). Türk sinema tarihi (2.nd ed.). İstanbul: Kabalcı.
Sev’er, A., & Yurdakul, G. (2001). Culture of honor, culture of change: a feminist analysis of honor killings in rural Turkey. Violence Against Women, 7(9), 964-998. https://doi.org/10.1177/10778010122182866
Smelik, A. (1998). And the mirror cracked: Feminist cinema and film theory. Macmillan.
Suner, A. (2006) Hayalet ev: Yeni Türk sinemasında aidiyet, kimlik ve bellek. Metis.
Şahinoğlu Pelin, S. (1999), The question of virginity testing in Turkey. Bioethics, 13: 256-261. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-8519.00154
Şimşek, H. (2023, 5 January). Bekleyiş: Belgeseli üzerine bir röportaj, Aslı Akdağ [Interview]. The Magger. https://www.themagger.com/asli-akdag-roportaj-bekleyis-belgeseli
TDK (2024). Namus, https://sozluk.gov.tr/ Accessed 01.07.2024
TDK (2024b). Nazlı, https://sozluk.gov.tr/ Accessed 10.09.2024
Tillion, G. (2006). Harem ve kuzenler. Şirin Tekeli & Nükhet Sirman (Trans.). Metis.
UNFPA. (2016). Türkiye'deki namus cinayetlerinin dinamikleri (22 Haziran 2016). https://turkiye.unfpa.org/sites/default/files/pub-pdf/namuscinayet.PDF
Vandello, J. A., & Cohen, D. (2003). Male honor and female fidelity: Implicit cultural scripts that perpetuate domestic violence. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 84(5), 997–1010. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.84.5.997
Yetkiner, B. (2014). Mine filminde yeni bir hayata geçişte ara mekan’ın temsili. Gümüşhane Üniversitesi İletişim Fakültesi Elektronik Dergisi, 2(4), 139-159. https://doi.org/10.19145/guifd.24543
Yıldız Tahincioğlu, A. N. (2010). Namusun ve namus cinayetlerinin cinsiyet eşitsizlikleri bağlamında analizi. Kültür Ve İletişim, 13(2), 131-158. https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/download/article-file/1934830
Zayed, A.A., Elbendary, R.N. & Moawad, A.M. (2022). Questioned virginity has no definite reply. Arch Sex Behav, 51, 2369–2372. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-022-02332-5
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Hakan Ün
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
- The Author retains copyright in the Work, where the term “Work” shall include all digital objects that may result in subsequent electronic publication or distribution.
- Upon acceptance of the Work, the author shall grant to the Publisher the right of first publication of the Work.
- The Author shall grant to the Publisher and its agents the nonexclusive perpetual right and license to publish, archive, and make accessible the Work in whole or in part in all forms of media now or hereafter known under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License or its equivalent, which, for the avoidance of doubt, allows others to copy, distribute, and transmit the Work under the following conditions:
- Attribution—other users must attribute the Work in the manner specified by the author as indicated on the journal Web site;
- The Author is able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the nonexclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the Work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), as long as there is provided in the document an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post online a prepublication manuscript (but not the Publisher’s final formatted PDF version of the Work) in institutional repositories or on their Websites prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work. Any such posting made before acceptance and publication of the Work shall be updated upon publication to include a reference to the Publisher-assigned DOI (Digital Object Identifier) and a link to the online abstract for the final published Work in the Journal.
- Upon Publisher’s request, the Author agrees to furnish promptly to Publisher, at the Author’s own expense, written evidence of the permissions, licenses, and consents for use of third-party material included within the Work, except as determined by Publisher to be covered by the principles of Fair Use.
- The Author represents and warrants that:
- the Work is the Author’s original work;
- the Author has not transferred, and will not transfer, exclusive rights in the Work to any third party;
- the Work is not pending review or under consideration by another publisher;
- the Work has not previously been published;
- the Work contains no misrepresentation or infringement of the Work or property of other authors or third parties; and
- the Work contains no libel, invasion of privacy, or other unlawful matter.
- The Author agrees to indemnify and hold Publisher harmless from Author’s breach of the representations and warranties contained in Paragraph 6 above, as well as any claim or proceeding relating to Publisher’s use and publication of any content contained in the Work, including third-party content.
Revised 7/16/2018. Revision Description: Removed outdated link.
