Uskudar University Institute of Social Sciences, in cooperation with the Uskudar University Solution-Focused Women's Issues Application and Research Center (ÜSÇÖZÜM), organized an event titled “Media, Women, and Psychology: Gender and Media”. In the program moderated by Asst. Prof. Dr. Cem Tutar from Uskudar University Faculty of Communication, ÜSÇÖZÜM Director Assoc. Prof. Dr. Aylin Tutgun Ünal stated; “Perception management is actively used on social media. If a person is not happy, they try to compensate for it on social media. We cannot fix social media without fixing real life.”
“The identity formation and subjectivity of women who cannot find their place in language are negatively affected”
Among the speakers of the event was Expert Social Worker Burcu Gündüz from Uskudar State Hospital, who stated; “Gender refers to the categories of femininity and masculinity, the behaviors and attitudes assumed to be related to these categories, and the social roles determined by the sociocultural structure. In this process, called socialization, individuals continuously learn society's expectations of them from birth until death and try to fulfill them. These expectations can vary from society to society, and culture to culture. People born as girls or boys encounter expectations defined specifically for women and men within this socialization process. Generally, these expectations point to a dimension beyond biological characteristics stemming from gender, connected to social structures and relationships. For example, in a patriarchal society based on male dominance, women are often expected to be docile, delicate, emotional, or passive; while men are expected to be strong, rebellious, logical, and active. That is, it includes personality traits and behaviors culturally deemed appropriate for women and men in society, and these often turn into stereotypes by society, such as ‘A man doesn't cry’ or ‘A woman makes a home’. In society, everything widely used socially, physically, or psychologically regarding women and womanhood is used for insult or degradation. Good, beautiful, strong qualities that honor or support are defined through men. For example, ‘a man of his word’ or ‘like a man’. The identity formation and subjectivity of women who cannot find their place in language are negatively affected. Social language views only men as human. Even in the news, violence against women is romanticized by calling it a love murder. It is emphasized that morality is solely the woman's duty.”
“Victims should not be re-victimized by the language of news”
Asst. Prof. Dr. Yıldıray Kesgin from Uskudar University Department of New Media and Journalism, addressing solutions related to ensuring political influence and media connections (discursive, affirmative action, positive discrimination strategies, social media activism) as necessary factors for achieving gender equality, said, “According to press ethics, in murders against women, visual selection regarding the victim and the perpetrator should only be used if a photo is necessary. There should not be a mosaic image of the perpetrator instead of the victim, as if protecting the perpetrator. Furthermore, the manner of the victim's death should not be detailed. Details that could serve as an encouraging model should not be provided. Additionally, news should protect the victim's personal rights. Otherwise, the victim is subjected to a second victimization through the language of the news.”
“Perception management is actively used on social media”
ÜSÇÖZÜM Director Assoc. Prof. Dr. Aylin Tutgun Ünal, discussing gender differences in social media use, stated; “Gender is also reflected on social media. First, for women to gain power, they need to end the effort to create competition among their peers and make peace. The widespread mobbing in business and social life should not occur. It is observed that women browse social media for emotional support, while men's efforts to dominate are also reflected in conflict scores on social media. Digital games are associated with men, and indeed, the high rate of men playing digital games proves this. Digging deeper, there is also the fact that men play games not merely to pass time, but with an instinct to win and succeed, in other words, as a display of power. On social media, there is also a situation where women are always expected to be beautiful, thin, and well-groomed. In short, perception management is actively used on social media. If a person is not happy, they try to compensate for it on social media. We cannot fix social media without fixing real life.”
“At the root of women feeling worthless is a lack of basic trust”
Clinical Psychologist Selvinaz Çınar Parlak, stating that the final stage of fundamental construction with society is the adolescence period; “From childhood, an individual's sense of identity begins to form: how they position themselves, how they perceive themselves, their core beliefs about themselves. Girls and boys are born with similar basic emotional needs. But how they will become women or men changes according to the environmental factors they are exposed to. As social beings, people teach individuals how to exist within this social system. The first place a person is exposed to this is the family. Therefore, children internalize the identity perception that their parents have. For centuries, there was a patriarchal structure. Because in hunter-gatherer societies, physical strength was very important. The man had to gather food and look after the offspring and the woman. The man had to be strong and protect the woman. The woman, on the other hand, had to stay home and look after her offspring. However, with the changing social structures and culture, the need for men's physical strength decreased. Staying home and looking after her offspring was no longer the woman's sole responsibility. Especially in the last 50 years, with the reshaping of capitalism and the economy, the basic needs of women and men for the continuation of society and life have changed. Since needs change, change will inevitably continue. What usually causes women to feel worthless is a lack of basic trust. Therefore, if we can make children feel unconditionally accepted in our cartoons, in women's roles at home, at school, and at home, fundamentally independent of gender, they will adapt quickly to changing social systems, values, and norms as they grow up and position themselves in a way that makes them feel valuable. They will not accept violence, worthlessness, or certain cultural bullying.”