Minister of Family and Social Services Göktaş: “We see broadcasts that cast a shadow over the dignity of women and the privacy of the family”

Minister of Family and Social Services Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş emphasized that there are broadcasts in many programs, from news bulletins to daytime shows, that cast a shadow over the dignity of women and the privacy of the family, stating, “News reports where every detail of a murder is provided and photos of the victim are used cause serious harm both to the families of those who lost their lives and to the mental health of society.”

The “Meeting on Preventing Violence Against Women through the Transformative Power of Culture, Art, and Media” was held by the Ministry of Family and Social Services. The meeting, organized at the Presidential Dolmabahçe Work Office, was attended by Minister of Family and Social Services Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş, media representatives, producers, actors, representatives of public institutions, and academics. Speaking before the meeting, Minister Göktaş stated that there are broadcasts in many programs, from news bulletins to daytime shows, that cast a shadow over the dignity of women and the privacy of the family.

“We see that women are represented with stereotypical roles”

Stating that women are represented with stereotypical roles in traditional and new media, Minister Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş said, “When we look at traditional and new media, we regret to see that women are generally represented with stereotypical roles, the female body is commodified, and this form of representation further reinforces discrimination against women. We have obtained findings that the way violence against women is presented in traditional and new media—whether in news, daytime shows, or TV series and films—reproduces existing violence and normalizes it. Last March, we published the 'Ethical Principles Regarding the Fight Against Violence Against Women in the Media,' which we prepared in cooperation with our RTÜK Presidency. I believe that these published ethical principles serve as an important guide for media organizations. I believe that the media's adoption of these principles will contribute to preventing the normalization of violence against women in society and preventing victims from suffering further harm.”

“We observe that unregulated digital channels are in the background of violence cases”

Stating that there are uncontrolled and unregulated digital channels in the background of violence, abuse, and suicide cases, Minister Göktaş said, “We observe that there are uncontrolled and unregulated digital channels in the background of violence, abuse, and suicide cases. At this point, I want to open a separate parenthesis for digital addiction. We are witnessing that this increasingly widespread issue causes deep effects on the mental health of individuals and society. These channels negatively affect the psychosocial development of our children and young people in particular. We regret to see that our young people, who build an artificial world for themselves, make concessions from their own personalities and take on virtual and fake identities. Digital games, in particular, are used as a tool in the radicalization of adolescents. Today, the effects of social media and digital risks have become a major source of concern for families. In this sense, we are working intensively to protect our children from the dangers of the digital world.”

“We see broadcasts in programs that cast a shadow over the privacy of the family”

Emphasizing that there are broadcasts that cast a shadow over the dignity of women and the privacy of the family, Minister Göktaş said, “From the perspective of media broadcasters, we first think that the issue is to develop a language sensitive to violence against women. We believe that representations of women and men should be constructed with great care. We believe that the characteristics of women and men who share life and are complementary to each other should be brought to the fore more. We want to watch stories of people on screens who are known for their intelligence, virtuous behavior, artistic talents, communication skills, or problem-solving approaches. However, unfortunately, presenting women and men as two fronts against each other draws a tense line as the first step of a covert or overt story of violence. The parties positioned as opposites sow the seeds of violence, not compassion, in the family and society. This situation opens doors that normalize violence and trivialize evil. Unfortunately, we see broadcasts in many programs, from news bulletins to daytime shows, that cast a shadow over the dignity of women and the privacy of the family. I have to express with regret; news reports where every detail of a murder is provided and photos of the victim are used cause serious harm both to the families of those who lost their lives and to the mental health of society. In this sense, we find it extremely valuable that news about violence is handled not with a sensational style and all the details of the incident, but with its aspect that raises social awareness.”