“Can I Call Myself a Feminist?” Interpretations of Feminism Among Diverse Young Men Who Support Gender Equality in Turkey

Abstract

This study contributes to research on men’s feminist self-identification by examining young men in Turkey, a Muslim-majority country. It explores how university-educated young men from diverse backgrounds—Sunni Turkish, Kurdish, Alevi, and Alawite—who support gender equality position themselves within feminism. Through in-depth interviews with 39 participants aged 18–24, the research reveals a spectrum of meanings associated with feminist self-labeling, categorized into four distinct groups along a continuum. At one end are “feminists,” who strongly identify with feminist ideology and demonstrate a nuanced understanding of gender and the struggle for equality beyond a binary framework. At the other end are “gender-egalitarians,” who distance themselves from feminism, often due to the negative perceptions of the movement and its advocates. Intermediate positions, such as “pro-feminist” and “feminism supporter,” reflect varying levels of engagement. The findings underscore the dynamic nature of self-identification among young men advocating for gender equality, revealing how external pressures and internal uncertainties can create hesitancy in claiming a feminist identity. I argue that self-identification with feminism offers valuable insights into these young men’s perceptions of gender and the quest for equality..