Perception of gender equality in new media

Abstract

Abstract

Introduction : Social gender is a concept that is used to describe the roles to be fulfilled, behavioral patterns and duties and responsibilities expected from males and females in socialization process according to the culture of the society where they live in different from biological gender. Media is a significant tool for determination and internalization of social gender roles. In parallel with social change and transformation, the change had in mass communication tools become effective in every field. New communication aspect called as new media provide opportunity for individuals to express themselves and present their opinions on every issue freely different from other mass communication tools.

Methods : In this study, it was aimed to investigate the comments made on the concepts of "gender equality" and "gender inequality" on the social sharing sites named Ekşi Sözlük and Uludağ Sözlük. The comments made over the concepts of “social gender equality” and “social gender inequality” in web site called “Ekşi Sözlük” and “Uludağ Sözlük” were reviewed during to 1 June- 15 September 2015 in this study and it was targeted to research the perception of social gender. For analyzing data, content analyzis was applied to comments.  

Results :In the study, 105 comments made on Ekşi Sözlük and 39 comments made on Uludağ Sözlük in regard to the subject matter were categorized and analyzed as "gender equality/inequality" and "gender roles". According to the data attained from analysis of the study, as opposed to conventional media, it is seen that the comments made on gender are quite varied. Besides such comments which reduce women merely to a body, insult them, assert that they lack the knowledge, skills and competence for existing in the public sphere, comments exceeding the equalitarian viewpoint on the subject, grounding on justice and equity have been identified.

Discussion : Reflections of the conventional patriarchal mentality are evidently seen in the comments on Ekşi Sözlük and Uludağ Sözlük. Being an environment where an issue is discussed by people in several numbers and having quite different opinions in different perspectives, social networking sites provide an important source of knowledge to the forms of peoples’ understanding and interpretation of social life. According to the data obtained in the research, the perception of social gender has still been produced in new media. However, it can be said that social gender perception is directed through the course where the understanding of “difference is not inequality” with an upper point of view exceeding the concepts of equality and inequality is grounded on in new media despite adopting an opponent discourse on the contrary to mainstream media.