Father-son interaction and construction of idealized masculinities in Turkey

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Tezin Türü: Yüksek Lisans

Tezin Yürütüldüğü Kurum: Orta Doğu Teknik Üniversitesi, Fen Edebiyat Fakültesi, Sosyoloji Bölümü, Türkiye

Tezin Onay Tarihi: 2019

Öğrenci: RUMEYSA CEYLAN

Danışman: AYŞE CEYLAN TOKLUOĞLU

Özet:

Construction of various masculinities is a new area of interest in comparison to other topics within gender studies. Characteristics of hegemonic masculinity are always in flux which brings about the never-ending need for analyzing the changing dynamics of gender relations which is mostly examined through the social constructionist view. The aim of this thesis is to analyze the dynamics of the father-son interaction and the construction of idealized masculinities of young Turkish adult men. The socio-cultural parameters of being a man in Turkish society will also be examined since it is through these parameters that father-son relationship and ideal masculinities become interrelated. In this familial dyad, transmission of ideas and tenets about manhood rest on idealized masculinities, revealing the importance of the interaction between fathers and sons in the construction of idealized masculinities in Turkey. In-depth interviews were conducted with twenty-four men (between the ages of 21 and 27), each lasted about an hour or more. Based on the qualitative data collected through the interviews, I mainly argue that father-son interaction is an influential source for constructing common masculine ideals among contemporary young Turkish adult men. I also argue that the nature of this relationship is changing, moving away from more traditional forms towards a more complex and flexible one.