Gender roles in cinema: The representation of gender roles in Turkish cinema between years of 1980 and 1999

The purpose of this study was to describe gender roles in Turkish Cinema between the years of 1980 and 1999. This thesis was a descriptive research study. The researcher used a content analysis method. Seven different categories were determined for the examination of the changes in the representation of gender roles of 43 leading actors and actresses in 20 films after the year of 1980. Three coders watched these 20 films of 43 leading actors and actresses and they filled the coding papers according to the seven categories. Coders watched one film in a single day and all the films were watched in 20 days. The researcher concluded that there were some changes in the portrayal of women and men in Turkish Cinema between 1980 and 1999. The traditional and modern roles are together in the films. The changes take place in young, urban- originated, educated and modern part of society. Turkish Cinema reflected the traditional and modern gender roles existing in social structure through these traditional and modern representations.