Türkiye’s Alignment with the EU’s Gender Equality Policies: An Epistemic Injustice Perspective

Abstract

The European Union (EU) stands as a leading actor in promoting and advancing gender equality both within its borders and globally. Throughout Turkey’s candidacy period of over twenty years, the EU’s influence in the field of gender equality has been examined, with the argument that Europeanisation has gradually shifted towards de-Europeanisation. This article problematizes the EU’s leadership in gender equality through the perspectives of feminist epistemic justice and colonial modernity, aiming to understand the dynamics shaping gender equality policies and the exclusion of marginalized groups from knowledge production processes. This study is based on a case study analysis, incorporating semi-structured interviews with civil society organisations in Turkey and the analysis of primary sources. Additionally, it evaluates the extent to which Turkey’s domestic gender equality agenda has been influenced by EU policies and directives, as well as the potential impact of Eurosceptic forces that may have driven shifts in Turkey’s approach to gender equality. By analysing policy changes from an epistemic injustice perspective, this research seeks to provide a comprehensive understanding of Turkey’s gender equality policy changes and the interactions within its relationship with the EU.

Keywords

• Europeanization
• de-Europeanization
• Gender Equality
• European Union
• Epistemic Injustice

Epistemik Adaletsizlik Çerçevesinde Türkiye’nin Toplumsal Cinsiyet Eşitliği Politikalarının AB’ye Uyumu

Abstract

Avrupa Birliği (AB), hem kendi sınırları içinde hem de küresel ölçekte toplumsal cinsiyet eşitliğini teşvik etme ve ilerletme konusunda lider bir aktör olarak öne çıkmaktadır. Türkiye’nin yirmi yılı aşkın adaylık süreci boyunca, AB’nin toplumsal cinsiyet eşitliği alanındaki etkileri ele alınmış; bu süreçte Avrupalılaşmanın zamanla Avrupalılaşma karşıtlığına dönüştüğü savunulmuştur. Bu makale, AB’nin toplumsal cinsiyet eşitliği liderliğini feminist epistemik adalet ve kolonyal modernite kavramaları çerçevesinde sorunsallaştırarak, toplumsal cinsiyet eşitliği politikalarının hangi dinamiklerle şekillendiğini incelemeyi amaçlamaktadır. Çalışma, Türkiye’deki sivil toplum örgütleriyle gerçekleştirilen yarı yapılandırılmış mülakatlara ve birincil kaynak analizine dayanan bir vaka analizi içermektedir. Ayrıca, Türkiye’nin iç toplumsal cinsiyet eşitliği gündeminin AB politikaları ve yönergelerinden nasıl etkilendiği ve bu bağlamda Avrupa karşıtı dinamiklerin ülkenin toplumsal cinsiyet eşitliği politikalarında ne tür değişikliklere yol açtığını değerlendirecektir. Epistemik adaletsizlik perspektifinde politika değişimlerini analiz eden bu araştırma, Türkiye’nin toplumsal cinsiyet eşitliği politikasındaki dönüşümü ve AB ile ilişkilerin bu süreçteki etkilerini kapsamlı bir şekilde anlamayı hedeflemektedir.

Keywords

• Avrupalılaşma
• Avrupalılaşma Karşıtlığı
• Toplumsal Cinsiyet Eşitliği
• Avrupa Birliği
• Epistemik Adaletsizlik

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