Ogan study analyzes Twitter activism opposing violence against Turkish women
A study by by professor emerita Christine Ogan and Özen Baş, PhD’18, applies the theory of affective publics to social media activism surrounding the rise in violence targeting Turkish women.
“Use of Social Media in the Struggle Surrounding Violence Against Turkish Women” appears in the International Journal of Communication.
Ogan and Baş conducted a qualitative content analysis of Twitter messages with popular hashtags and found that many users support women through postings and repostings of solidarity, emotional expressions, remembrance and dissemination of information. The sample consisted of posts addressing six cases of violent crimes against women which occurred between 2015 and 2019. They found evidence of the existence of affective publics — soft structures of feeling, expression and connection — through the stories told in the images, videos and quotes that were shared on Twitter.
Despite growing online support, the authors said the Turkish government’s ability to silence crucial voices on social media and in the streets will likely block any organized social movement aimed at stopping these violent crimes.