An Overview of the Ballet Profession from the Axis of Gender Roles

Burcu Gedikli; Meliha Demet Ulusoy

Article Details

An Overview of the Ballet Profession from the Axis of Gender Roles

Authors:

Burcu Gedikli | Meliha Demet Ulusoy

Publisher:

Hacettepe University

Main Topics:

Sanat Sosyolojisi

Journal:

Hacettepe Üniversitesi Edebiyat Fakültesi Dergisi Vol.41 Issue 1, pp.245-261

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

6/2024

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001317261

pISSN:

1301-5737

Keywords:

Abstract:

 As a Western art form, ballet entered Turkeys art culture portfolio as an ideology of the modernization process. Its adoption as a foreign cultural element has been problematic and its social perception equally controversial. As an art form based on the dance of men and women, it is observed that as well as positive acceptance, negative judgments have also developed with the argument that it is contrary to Turkish culture. This problematic perspective is largely due to stereotypes about gender roles. This study attempts to understand the pattern of this positioning based on the experiences of ballet dancers. A qualitative research was designed and in-depth interviews were conducted with 31 ballet dancers. As a result of the research, it was found that basic judgments about the field of ballet are structured through sexuality and masculinity roles. In these findings, while the theme of sexual preference such as femininity and homosexuality came to the forefront in the construction of a negative view of ballet for men, it was found that negative judgments for women were shaped by honor and chastity such as close contact with men, nudity, and easy availability.

 As a Western art form, ballet entered Turkeys art culture portfolio as an ideology of the modernization process. Its adoption as a foreign cultural element has been problematic and its social perception equally controversial. As an art form based on the dance of men and women, it is observed that as well as positive acceptance, negative judgments have also developed with the argument that it is contrary to Turkish culture. This problematic perspective is largely due to stereotypes about gender roles. This study attempts to understand the pattern of this positioning based on the experiences of ballet dancers. A qualitative research was designed and in-depth interviews were conducted with 31 ballet dancers. As a result of the research, it was found that basic judgments about the field of ballet are structured through sexuality and masculinity roles. In these findings, while the theme of sexual preference such as femininity and homosexuality came to the forefront in the construction of a negative view of ballet for men, it was found that negative judgments for women were shaped by honor and chastity such as close contact with men, nudity, and easy availability.

 As a Western art form, ballet entered Turkeys art culture portfolio as an ideology of the modernization process. Its adoption as a foreign cultural element has been problematic and its social perception equally controversial. As an art form based on the dance of men and women, it is observed that as well as positive acceptance, negative judgments have also developed with the argument that it is contrary to Turkish culture. This problematic perspective is largely due to stereotypes about gender roles. This study attempts to understand the pattern of this positioning based on the experiences of ballet dancers. A qualitative research was designed and in-depth interviews were conducted with 31 ballet dancers. As a result of the research, it was found that basic judgments about the field of ballet are structured through sexuality and masculinity roles. In these findings, while the theme of sexual preference such as femininity and homosexuality came to the forefront in the construction of a negative view of ballet for men, it was found that negative judgments for women were shaped by honor and chastity such as close contact with men, nudity, and easy availability.

 Batılı bir sanat dalı olarak bale, Türkiyenin sanat kültürü portföyüne modernleşme sürecinin ideolojisi olarak girmiştir. Yabancı bir kültür öğesi olarak benimsenmesi problemli ve toplumsal algılanışı da bir o kadar tartışmalı olmuştur. Kadın ve erkeğin dansına dayalı bir sanat dalı olarak olumlu yönde kabullerin olduğu kadar Türk kültürüne ters düştüğü argümanı ile olumsuz yargıların da oluştuğu izlenmektedir. Bu problematik bakış açısının büyük oranda nedeni toplumsal cinsiyet rollerine yönelik kalıp yargılardır. Bu çalışmada bale dansçılarının deneyimlerinden yola çıkarak bu vaziyet alışın örüntüsü anlaşılmaya çalışılmıştır. Bu eksende nitel bir araştırma tasarlanarak 31 bale dansçısı ile derinlemesine görüşmeler yapılmıştır. Araştırma sonucunda bale alanına yönelik temel yargıların cinsellik ve erkeklik rolleri üzerinden yapılandırıldığı bulgulanmıştır. Bu bulgularda erkekler için baleye olumsuz bakış inşasında kadınsılık, homoseksüalite gibi cinsel tercih teması öne çıkarken kadınlar için ise olumsuz yargıların yine cinsellik kapsamında ama daha ziyade erkeklerle yakın temas, çıplaklık, kolay elde edilebilirlik gibi namus ve iffet üzerinden şekillendiği bilgisine ulaşılmıştır.

Article Details

An Overview of the Ballet Profession from the Axis of Gender Roles

Authors:

Burcu Gedikli | Meliha Demet Ulusoy

Publisher:

Hacettepe University

Main Topics:

Sanat Sosyolojisi

Journal:

Hacettepe Üniversitesi Edebiyat Fakültesi Dergisi Vol.41 Issue 1, pp.245-261

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

6/2024

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001317261

pISSN:

1301-5737

Sociology of art

ballet

profession choice

gender rolesSanat sosyolojisi

bale

meslek seçimi

toplumsal cinsiyet rolleri

Issues

Article Details

Authors: Burcu Gedikli | Meliha Demet Ulusoy

Publisher: Hacettepe University

Main Topics: Sanat Sosyolojisi

Journal: Hacettepe Üniversitesi Edebiyat Fakültesi Dergisi Vol.41 Issue 1, pp.245-261

Document Type: Article

Publication Date: 6/2024

Document Language: Turkish

Document ID (Org No.): 2001317261

pISSN: 1301-5737

Issues

Authors:

Burcu Gedikli | Meliha Demet Ulusoy

Publisher:

Hacettepe University

Main Topics:

Sanat Sosyolojisi

Journal:

Hacettepe Üniversitesi Edebiyat Fakültesi Dergisi Vol.41 Issue 1, pp.245-261

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

6/2024

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001317261

pISSN:

1301-5737