Cyber Sexism

Abstract

This article presents a critical analysis of posts and images shared by male X users about women in Turkey. Focusing on two X accounts (Erkkod and Yalnız Adam), the article aims to reveal the importance of online texts and images in the meaning-making and the politicization of women subjects, highlighting the misogynistic discourse prevalent on online media. A multi-modal discourse analysis approach is employed to reveal how texts and images are selected to construct ideological narratives. The analysis reveals that these texts and images ideologically serve to reinforce the discourse and policies of the AKP (Adalet ve Kalkınma Partisi-Justice and Development Party), which has been targeting secular segments of society that have adopted Western lifestyles, particularly women since the party assumed power in 2002. Misogynistic stereotypes, along with the portrayal of the female body and women's non-Islamic clothing were portrayed as symbols of a moral crisis, which is utilised by the AKP and its supporters to lay the groundwork for creating an Islamic society. The article argues that misogynistic online male platforms have capitalised on the government's pro-Islamic gender policies to disseminate their misogynistic rhetoric to a wider audience.