On digital platforms between 2020-2022 the phenomenon of strong women in TV series broadcasted Netflix example

This study aims to reveal how the roles assigned to women in the context of gender are represented on digital media platforms. The concept of gender, examined under the title of feminist theory, is one of the significant research topics today. The position of women within social norms holds importance both universally and locally. In this context, it is known that the content broadcast in the media plays a crucial role in guiding the audience. Especially in prime-time series, gender norms represent women under a patriarchal order. The audience, identified with the masculine language and characters used in the content, ensures the reinforcement of the patriarchal order and the shaping of women's roles in everyday life within this structure. In line with these narratives, the first phase of the study focuses on feminist theory, gender, and the representation of women in Turkish TV series. Following this, information about digital platforms is provided, examining the development process of digital platforms in Turkey, and discussing Netflix's history and the representation of women in its original content. Netflix was chosen for its high number of subscribers and the abundance of its content. The study examines Netflix's original Turkish series released between 2020-2022. The series were analyzed using content analysis methods, and the representation of women in the series was interpreted from the perspectives of feminist theory and gender. In this context, the representation of women in series broadcast on digital platforms was compared to that in television series. Twelve series released on Netflix between 2020-2022 were examined. It was concluded that the representation of women in Netflix series diverged from the roles attributed by society and created a positive break from traditional narratives.