Thesis (MA) - Cyprus International University. Institute of Graduate Studies and Research Communication and Media Studies Department

Includes bibliography (sheets 53-64)

ABSTRACT
Toxic masculinity, as a part of the ongoing discussion on gender roles, has become a
popular concept in the last decade. However, the term and what it really means has
been abused over the years by popular culture. Toxic masculinity is a narrow and
repressive description of manhood, designating manhood as defined by violence, sex,
status, and aggression. It is not a critique of masculinity, just its characteristics that are
similar to those that signify authority and masculinity in a patriarchal society. The
study aimed at understanding how toxic masculinity is represented in the Turkish
movies Once Upon a Time in Anatolia (2011) and Mustang (2015) and how it
corresponds with Turkish society’s understanding of gender roles. Turkey’s identity
as a bridge between the East and the West made it a point of interest. President
Erdoğan’s decision to opt out of the İstanbul Convention and the rise in gender
inequality in Turkish society was also taken into consideration. Thematic analysis was
used as the methodology of the study and applied to the selected movies. The results
indicate that Turkish society’s perception of gender roles is influenced by patriarchal
ideology. The elements of toxic masculinity were examined and found present in both
movies. It showed that the male gaze dictates the viewing process. It is also
recommended that directors and producers show stories with more positive examples
of gender roles for both men and women.
Keywords: Gender Roles, Hegemonic Masculinity, Representation, Thematic
Analysis, Toxic Masculinity, Turkish Cinema