Gender, Media, and State Power: The Istanbul Convention and Turkey’s Withdrawal Process

Gender, Media, and State Power: The Istanbul Convention and Turkey’s Withdrawal Process

What is the Istanbul Convention?

  • Opened for signature in 2011 in Istanbul.

  • Goals:

    • Aims to prevent violence against women and domestic violence.

    • Defines gender-based violence as a structural problem.

Core Principles of the Convention

  • Prevention: Initiatives to stop violence before it occurs.

  • Protection: Safeguarding the victims of violence.

  • Prosecution: Legal actions taken against perpetrators of violence.

  • Integrated Policies: Coordinated actions across sectors to address violence against women.

Definition of Gender

  • What the Convention says:

    • Gender refers to socially constructed roles, behaviors, and attributes associated with women and men.

  • Controversy:

    • Interpreted as denying biological sex.

    • Framed as imposing "gender ideology" on society.

Non-Discrimination

  • What the Convention states:

    • Protection must be ensured without discrimination, including on the grounds of:

    • Sex

    • Gender

    • Sexual orientation

    • Gender identity

  • Controversy:

    • Claimed to "legitimize" LGBTQ+ identities.

    • Presented as a threat to the traditional family structure.

Article 12 – Culture, Custom, Religion

  • What the Convention states:

    • Culture, tradition, religion, or so-called “honour” cannot be used to justify violence.

  • Controversy:

    • Framed as interference with traditions and religious values.

    • Seen as state intervention into family life.

The “Family” Debate

  • What the Convention does NOT include:

    • No redefinition of marriage.

    • No abolition of the family.

    • No obligation regarding sexual orientation or gender identity.

  • Framed as:

    • “Destroying the family.”

    • “Undermining moral values.”

Turkey’s Withdrawal Process

  • Turkey was the first country to sign and ratify the Convention.

  • Official withdrawal occurred in 2021 by Presidential decree.

  • No parliamentary debate was held regarding the withdrawal process.

Official Justifications for Withdrawal

  • Protection of the family: Claim that the Convention threatens family structures.

  • Claims of 'gender ideology': Belief that gender frameworks introduced by the Convention distort societal norms.

  • Anti-LGBTQ+ discourse: Framing of LGBTQ+ rights as contrary to traditional values.

Media and Discourse

  • The Istanbul Convention was framed as a cultural threat rather than a legal framework.

  • Emphasis on themes of morality, family, and national values in narratives about the Convention.

Anti-Convention Media Headlines

  • Examples of Headlines:

    • "The Istanbul Convention Threatens the Family."

    • "Say No to Gender Ideology."

    • "A Western Immorality Project."

Discursive Strategies

  • Moral panic: Creating an exaggerated response to perceived threats.

  • Othering: Distancing and stigmatizing those who support the Convention.

  • Us vs. Them narratives: Frans implying a moral divide between groups, fighting against “Western” values.

  • Invisibilization of violence: Minimizing or obscuring discussions about violence against women when addressing the Convention.

Alternative / Counter Headlines

  • Examples of Counter-Headlines:

    • "The Istanbul Convention Saves Lives."

    • "Women’s Right to Life Is Non-Negotiable."

    • "Violence Is a Human Rights Issue."

Anti-Gender Politics

  • Described as a global political movement opposing gender equality policies.

  • Centers around family, religion, and national identity.

Comparative Perspective

  • Countries Discussed:

    1. Turkey:

    • Status: Withdrew in 2021.

    • Dominant discourse: Protection of the family, anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric.

    1. Poland:

    • Status: Withdrawal debates ongoing with an active women’s rights movement.

    • Influenced by Catholic values and anti-abortion discourse.

    1. Hungary:

    • Status: Never ratified the Convention.

    • Dominated by the “gender ideology” narrative under the Orbán government.

Shared Patterns Across Countries

  • Common themes:

    • Anti-gender ideology discourse.

    • Targeting feminist movements.

    • Increasing distance from international human rights norms.

Theoretical Framework

  • Gramsci: Cultural Hegemony:

    • States govern by creating consent, not solely through coercion.

    • Opposition to the Istanbul Convention reflects conflict over cultural dominance.

  • Stanley Cohen: Moral Panic:

    • Societies create exaggerated threat narratives, framing certain groups (e.g., LGBTQ+ individuals, feminists) as “folk devils.”

    • Key elements include media exaggeration and simplistic narratives.

  • Judith Butler: Gender as a Site of Power:

    • Gender functions as a battleground of political struggle, with opposition to the Convention representing a conflict over control of identity and family.

Discussion Question

  • Is withdrawing from the Istanbul Convention a legal decision or a symbolic act of power?