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The Moderating Role of Gender in Perceived Discrimination Levels and Political Participation of Turkish Women

  • Gökçe Özkılıçcı ORCID logo EMAIL logo and Onur Yamaner ORCID logo
Published/Copyright: July 3, 2025

Abstract

This study explores the relationship between women’s political participation, perceived discrimination, and gender dynamics in Turkey. Political participation embodies an individual’s aspiration to influence societal transformation and contribute to decision-making processes that shape communities. However, women’s engagement in these processes has long been hindered by deeply rooted societal norms and systemic barriers. The primary objective of this research is to examine how perceived discrimination impacts women’s political participation and to assess whether gender perceptions moderate this relationship. Data were collected from 313 female university students aged 18–58, utilizing the Political Participation Scale, Gender Perception Scale, and Perceived Discrimination Index. The results demonstrated a significant positive correlation between perceived discrimination and political participation, with gender perception acting as a key moderator. Women with stronger gender equality beliefs were more likely to recognize discrimination and engage in political activities. These findings emphasize the critical role of cultural, educational, and institutional strategies in enhancing women’s political visibility and addressing systemic barriers. The study provides a robust foundation for developing egalitarian policies to promote women’s active participation in politics, fostering a more inclusive democratic landscape.


Corresponding author: Gökçe Özkılıçcı, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Economics, Administrative and Social Sciences, Fenerbahçe University, İstanbul, Türkiye, E-mail:

  1. Research ethics: The ethical considerations of this study were evaluated by the X University Ethics Committee during a meeting held on 20 January 2025, with the decision numbered 2025/1–4 FBU. The committee assessed the study’s rationale, objectives, methodology, and overall approach, deeming it ethically acceptable. Permissions were obtained for the use of the scales employed in the research, and all procedures adhered to established scientific and ethical guidelines. Participants’ identities were neither requested during interviews nor included in the study findings, and the research was conducted in compliance with the ethical principles outlined in the Declaration of Helsinki.

  2. Informed consent: Every individual participant in the study gave their informed consent.

  3. Conflict of interest: The authors have no relevant financial or non-financial interests to disclose.

  4. Research funding: The authors declare that no funds, grants, or other support were received during the preparation of this manuscript.

  5. Data availability: The data utilised in the study has been rendered publicly accessible through the Open Science Framework (OSF), with the data set and data collection tools being available at https://osf.io/34fbu/?view_only=df5c660cfb1d4306b6d322677ee554c8

  6. Declaration of generative AI and AI-assisted technologies in the writing process: The authors utilized DeepL to enhance the document’s readability when preparing it. The author assumes full responsibility for the content of the published article and has reviewed and edited it as necessary after using this tool/service.

  7. Author contribution: GÖ: Writing – review and editing, Writing – original draft, Methodology, Conceptualization, Data curation. OY: Writing – review and editing, Writing – original draft, Investigation.

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Received: 2025-04-26
Accepted: 2025-06-12
Published Online: 2025-07-03
Published in Print: 2025-07-28

© 2025 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston

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