Femicide in Turkey: A Document Analysis of News from 2011 to 2019

• Published in: Journal of social service research 2024-01, Vol.50 (1), p.54-72
• Main Authors: Erükçü Akbaş, Gamze, Karataş, Kasım
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Autonomy; Demography; Femicide; femicide risk and protective factors; Homicide; Murders & murder attempts; News; Protective factors; Risk factors; social services; social work; Sociodemographics; Translation
• ISSN: 0148-8376; 1540-7314
• DOI: 10.1080/01488376.2023.2271958

This study undertakes an exhaustive investigation encompassing 1,777 instances of femicide in Turkey from 2011 to 2019. These cases entail the tragic loss of women's lives due to acts of violence perpetrated by men, as recorded within newspaper articles. Methodologically, the research employs the document analysis approach, which represents a qualitative means of generating research data. The study employs a descriptive analysis of 5,686 newspaper articles, thereby affording a comprehensive overview of the subject matter. The study's analytical framework encompasses several key areas: (1) socio-demographic aspects, (2) murder-related factors, (3) determinants of femicide risk and protective factors, (4) factors pertaining to individuals affected by the act of murder. Based on the study findings, it was observed that one in every two women was killed when they asserted their autonomy in decisions regarding their lives. Furthermore, it is noteworthy that one-third of femicides evinced pronounced warning signs, encompassing the escalation of violent behaviors, explicit death threats, and inflicted physical harm. In the context of Turkey, it is imperative that rigorous research endeavors be undertaken to illuminate the protective and risk factors associated with femicide, with an emphasis on the imperative translation of evidence-based findings into practical policy and intervention measures.