A critical analysis of discourses on gender equality in education: the case of Turkey

Küçükakin P., Engin Demir C.

GENDER AND EDUCATION, vol.34, no.8, pp.940-956, 2022 (SSCI) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 34 Issue: 8
  • Publication Date: 2022
  • Doi Number: 10.1080/09540253.2022.2050679
  • Journal Name: GENDER AND EDUCATION
  • Journal Indexes: Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, ASSIA, IBZ Online, International Bibliography of Social Sciences, EBSCO Education Source, Education Abstracts, Educational research abstracts (ERA), ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Gender Studies Database, Public Affairs Index, Social services abstracts, Sociological abstracts
  • Page Numbers: pp.940-956
  • Keywords: Gender inequalities in education, educational policies, critical discourse analysis, POLICY, INEQUALITY, RELIGION, SCHOOL, GIRLS
  • Middle East Technical University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Despite national and international attempts to eliminate gender inequality in education, it remains a pressing issue in Turkey. Because gender equality is often shaped by and through discursive practices, the present study explores how educational policy and media discourses create gender inequalities in education. The critical discourse analysis examines 124 policy documents published by 12 governmental organizations and 252 newspaper clippings found in 14 different national newspapers published in Turkey over the last decade. Additionally, interviews were conducted with 13 teachers working at K-12 schools. Our analysis showed that while official statements support gender equality in education, contradictions underlying many educational policies continue to re/produce gender inequalities.