Women and Turkish Cinema: Gender Politics, Cultural Identity and Representation

Abstract

Eylem Atakav's Women and Turkish Cinema: Gender Politics, Cultural Identity and Representation (2012) examines how feminist discourse flourished in Turkish cinema after the 1980 military coup. The book argues that feminism was not perceived as a direct threat by the military government, allowing its exploration through film. Atakav contends that Turkish feminism is uniquely shaped by cultural and religious factors, particularly Islam, which influences perceptions of female emancipation, family, and identity. The study analyzes four key films from the 1980s—Dünden Sonra Yarından Önce, Mine, Asiye Nasıl Kurtulur, and Kurbağalar—through cinematic, thematic, and structural lenses. While the book provides valuable insights into Turkish feminism and cinema, some interpretations are critiqued as overly narrow, particularly in the reading of Mine. The reviewer also notes the underplaying of Duygu Asena's influence compared to Sule Torun’s more niche magazine articles. Overall, the work contributes significantly to understanding how feminist ideas were articulated in Turkish film during a politically turbulent era.

(The abstract and keywords were prepared retrospectively for indexing purposes using AI-assisted tools and editorial review, based on the original article. They did not appear in the original publication.)