Gender-Based Language and Institutional Power: A Feminist Analysis of Representation in Turkish Public Administration

Despite decades of reform and modernization, the visibility of women in Turkish public administration remains a critical issue, pointing to a deeper structural and symbolic imbalance within state institutions. This study examines the persistent underrepresentation of women in decision-making roles in Turkey, where, as of 2024, women account for less than 20% of parliamentarians and only 26% of ambassadors. In contrast, some European countries report over 45% female representation in their parliaments. In Turkey, women often lack “a seat at the table,” or when they do have one, it is frequently symbolic rather than substantive. This research offers a multidimensional analysis of gender inequality within Turkish public administration, aiming to bridge empirical evidence with theoretical insight. It traces the persistence of patriarchal discourse from mythological narratives to modern bureaucratic institutions, analyzing the gendered nature of institutional structures, symbolic norms, and official language. By combining feminist theoretical approaches with document-based discourse analysis, the study interrogates how institutions reflect and reproduce masculine dominance. Empirical data are drawn from national and international sources to explore patterns of gender representation in politics, academia, and diplomacy. These are used to explore patterns of gender representation in politics, academia, and diplomacy. The study reveals how masculine-coded institutional culture and symbolic power reinforce gendered hierarchies, limiting the effectiveness of policy reforms. It argues that increasing the number of women in public roles is not sufficient unless accompanied by a deeper transformation in institutional discourse and culture. By making visible the layered barriers that constrain women’s full participation, this study contributes to ongoing debates on gender, representation, and democratic governance in the Global South.