“If we are not going to movies, then what about having sex?”: Exploring gender in the Turkish context through Otisabi comic strips
Feminist Media Studies, 2026 (SSCI, Scopus)
- Publication Type: Article / Article
- Publication Date: 2026
- Doi Number: 10.1080/14680777.2026.2684506
- Journal Name: Feminist Media Studies
- Journal Indexes: Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Scopus, Aerospace Database, Communication Abstracts, Educational research abstracts (ERA), Gender Studies Database, Index Islamicus, MLA - Modern Language Association Database, MLA International Bibliography, EBSCO Communication Source, Academic Search Ultimate (EBSCO), Communication Source (EBSCO), Sociology Source Ultimate (EBSCO), Technology Collection (ProQuest)
- Keywords: female objectification, Humour magazine, male dominance, Otisabi, restrictive gender roles
- Hacettepe University Affiliated: Yes
Abstract
Grounded in feminist and gender studies, this study investigates how Otisabi, a comic strip featured on the back cover of the humour magazine Uykusuz (Sleepless) from 2007 to 2023, offers critical insights into gender issues in Türkiye. Created by cartoonist and illustrator Yılmaz Aslantürk (b. 1967), Otisabi initially appeared in narrative form before evolving into a recurring comic strip character. The narratives portray Otisabi’s manipulative strategies for seducing women, often implying that certain women deserve such treatment, thereby highlighting problematic gendered assumptions. This study uses purposeful sampling to conduct an in-depth qualitative analysis of Otisabi. As Uykusuz had the highest circulation in 2013, 2012, and 2011, the analysis focuses on the strips from those years. Of the strips addressing gender issues, only six that simultaneously foreground male dominance, female objectification, and restrictive gender roles were selected for detailed analysis. By decoding the dynamics of gender stereotypes, this study argues that these comic strips not only reflect conventional norms but also critique and subvert them, envisioning more progressive representations of women. The study concludes that Otisabi serves as a microcosm of ongoing gender tensions, offering valuable insights into persistent power relations within social contexts in Türkiye that may appear more liberated.