Stories of Men Participating in Violence Against Women Prevention in Turkey: Unraveling Muslim Men's Motivation in Gender Equity Work

Background and purpose: This Turkey-based study is part of a larger global-Canadian collaborative project which aims to understand men’s involvement in the prevention of violence against women and girls (VAWG) in five Muslim-majority countries: Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan, Qatar, and Turkey; it responds to the global call for male participation in gender justice work by centering the experiences of men’s support and involvement in VAWG prevention work, and is situated within decolonial approaches, transnational feminism, and transformative learning.

Methods: Research questions include: what catalyzed men’s involvement in VAWG prevention?; what contextual factors impacted their trajectories?; and what strategies of prevention do these men see as the most promising mechanisms to prevent VAWG in Muslim-majority countries? Eight qualitative interviews were completed with Muslim men from Turkey who supported gender justice and were involved in VAWG prevention work. The interviews were analyzed using Fraser’s (2004) critical narrative analysis.

Results: Four main themes emerged: (1) male perception of gender roles and status across the lifespan; (2) academia as a source of transformation; (3) religious, political, and socio-cultural influences; and (4) the significance of male engagement in VAWG prevention. The first theme captures how gender roles and norms performed by family members influenced men’s participation and understanding of gender inequality in Turkey. In the second theme, the influence of classes, programs, and interactions facilitated throughout their academic careers increased their understanding of gender inequality and inspired future participation in VAWG prevention. The religious, political, and socio-cultural contexts of Turkey and their influence on male VAWG prevention work are recognized in the third theme. In the fourth theme, participants described the importance of male participation in gender justice movement and recommendations for future prevention work.

Conclusions and Implications: The cumulative impact of these life experiences led men to recognize the critical importance of their participation in efforts to combat VAW, underscoring the pivotal shift towards acknowledging male responsibility and involvement in fostering safe and equitable engagement of men in gender justice and VAW prevention initiatives. Future research within this global project will compare these findings with those from other participating Muslim-majority countries, creating opportunities to uncover similarities and differences across cultures and jurisdictions.