Challenges Facing Men in Questioning Masculinities: A Critique of Men’s Organizing as Feminist Allies in Turkey

Abstract

Since 2008, a wave of men’s groups as feminist allies has emerged in Turkey. Despite this promising stirring, these groups could not gain momentum and did not show continuity. Drawing on a content analysis of their texts and in-depth interviews with their participants, this paper traces the reasons behind their reduced impacts and life cycles. It identifies problematic group dynamics related to mobilizing around questioning masculinities and confronting privileges solely at an individual level. It discusses that men as feminist allies, both in local and global contexts, can create more resonant collective action by organizing around a specific issue of concern to gender equality and addressing institutional-level change.

Keywords

• Men’s allyship
• gender equality
• feminism
• , LGBTQ+
• Turkey

Erkeklerin Erkeklikleri Sorgularken Yüz Yüze Kaldıkları Zorluklar: Türkiye’de Feminist Müttefikler Olarak Erkek Örgütlenmelerinin Eleştirisi

Abstract

2008’den bu yana, Türkiye’de feministlere müttefik olan bir erkek grupları dalgası oluştu. Umut vaadeden bu yeni oluşuma rağmen, bu gruplar pek mesafe kaydedemedi ve devamlılık sağlayamadı. Bu çalışma, bu grupların ürettikleri metinlerin ve grup üyeleri ile yapılan derinlemesine görüşmelerin içerik analizine dayanarak, zayıf etkilerinin ve kısa ömürlerinin ardındaki sebeplerin izini sürmektedir. Yalnızca bireysel düzeyde erkeklikleri sorgulamak üzere örgütlenme ve ayrıcalıklarla yüzleşme ile bağlantılı grup dinamiklerinin sorunlu olduğu tespitini yapmaktadır. Hem yerel hem de küresel bağlamlarda, feministlerle müttefik olan erkeklerin, belirli bir toplumsal cinsiyet eşitliği meselesi etrafında örgütlenerek ve kurumsal düzeyde değişiklik üzerine eğilerek yankısı daha büyük kolektif bir hareket ortaya çıkarabileceğini tartışmaktadır.

Keywords

• Erkeklerin müttefikliği
• toplumsal cinsiyet eşitliği
• feminizm
• LGBTQ+
• Türkiye

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