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Addressing the Issue of Violence Against Women in Women's Studies Graduate Programs: A Meta-Synthesis Study
Thu, September 4, 2:30 to 3:45pm, Deree | Classrooms, DC 702Abstract
In this study, postgraduate theses on violence within women's studies departments in Türkiye were synthesized and analyzed thematically. The aim was to provide a comprehensive descriptive analysis of postgraduate theses published before December 31, 2024, in the National Thesis Center (YÖKTEZ) database, focusing on departments under Women's Studies. Theses containing the keywords violence and/or homicide in their titles or abstracts were selected for analysis. This study utilizes thematic content analysis (meta-synthesis) to examine the distribution of theses over time, key topics, methodologies, objectives, recommendations, and findings.
A total of 751 theses from nine departments, completed before 2024, were analyzed. Using the keywords violence and homicide, 49 relevant theses were identified. The first thesis on violence was published in 1998, and the earliest study on femicide appeared in 2000. The number of theses focusing on violence against women and femicide peaked in 2019, showing the continued academic relevance of the topic.
Most studies were conducted in sociology, with qualitative research as the predominant methodology. Women's studies in Türkiye approach violence from multiple perspectives, but there is a gap in research in forensic science and psychology. Additionally, there is a noticeable lack of interdisciplinary collaboration.
Given the dominance of qualitative methods, statistical data on violence and its effects is limited. However, these studies offer valuable insights into domestic violence, media portrayals of violence, femicide, and sexual violence. Fewer theses explore emerging issues like cyber violence, technology-related abuse, and economic violence.
Key recommendations include strengthening legal sanctions for perpetrators, expanding feminist research, and exploring violence through diverse methodologies. Additionally, there is a call for more policy-oriented research to influence legal and institutional reforms. The study also identified a lack of support-focused research for victims, emphasizing the need for empirical methodologies in future studies.