Comparative analysis of the representations of women and men in the tv series "An İstanbul Tale" and "Spring" within the framework of cultural studies

Cultural studies aim to understand how ideologies, relationships, and identities are constructed and perpetuated through social interactions and lifestyles. Television series, presented to society by the media, stand out as a significant tool in constructing and naturalizing gender representations. In this context, this study investigates gender roles in two domestic television series within the framework of cultural studies, aiming to identify the existence of these roles changing from past to present. This study, which assumes that gender inequality is a cultural construct, seeks to answer whether social roles have changed over time. This study utilizes discourse analysis, a qualitative research method. The characters' discourses in "Bir İstanbul Masalı" (An Istanbul Tale) and "Bahar" (Spring) are correlated with gender representations to create themes and interpreted using a socialist feminism approach. In "Bir İstanbul Masalı," it is revealed that patriarchal ideology persists and is reproduced, while women are suppressed by traditional roles and their labor is rendered invisible. In "Bahar," the female characters' intense struggle for individualization is observed, and the presence of supportive male figures is noteworthy. At the same time, it has been observed that these struggles are often suppressed and limited by patriarchal discourses within the framework of hegemonic masculinity. Furthermore, the interplay between character roles, socioeconomic positions, and class differences is also examined. Socialist feminism's integration of the economic and cultural structure it critiques with media analysis makes a significant contribution to the existing literature. Furthermore, this study offers a glimmer of hope that representations can change and evolve over time and that social structures can be transformed.