Women and Cultural Citizenship in Turkey: Mass Media and ‘Woman’s Voice’ Television

Description

TV Talk shows, often seen as vulgar and low-brow, can actually be a vehicle through which hitherto undiscussed topics (such as violence against women or political exclusion) are brought into the public sphere. Solen Sanli argues that this is the case in Turkey, where talk shows often invite ordinary women from lower socio-economic classes to speak of their experiences of family life: marriage, divorce, child custody rights and relations with in-laws. Specifically looking at popular women's talk shows such as these (commonly called 'Woman's Voice' television), Sanli explores how groups with political and cultural power control public discourse and the public sphere in Turkey, and how urban/rural and Islamist/secular oppositions are constructed and evolve. This book offers topical and original insights relevant for a range of disciplines, such as Anthropology, Gender and Communication Studies, as well as those researching cultural and political participation in the Middle East.