The core issue is how masculinity is taught!

In recent days, it has come to the public agenda and drawn strong reactions that men in certain professional groups exchanged sexually explicit messages and objectifying language about women in WhatsApp groups, and that similar language has been used by male students about female students in high schools.

Evaluating how the concept of “masculinity” is constructed in digital spaces and how it turns into a language imbued with violence, sociologist Asst. Prof. Nihan Kalkandeler Özdin stated, “On the one hand, we see a sense of freedom and impunity framed as ‘I can say anything I want’; on the other hand, we see the reckless commodification of another person’s privacy. Expressions that objectify, demean, or belittle women become normalized as they are repeated, and once normalized, they become unquestioned.”

Emphasizing that the real issue lies in how masculinity is taught, which behaviors are rewarded, and which silences are maintained, Asst. Prof. Özdin said, “Masculinity needs to be redefined. We can focus on constructing a form of masculinity grounded not in power but in responsibility, not in domination but in equality, not in silence but in confrontation. Otherwise, this crisis will continue to confront us in different forms and in different spaces, whether real or virtual.”

Asst. Prof. Nihan Kalkandeler Özdin, Vice Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, evaluated the violence, bullying, and misogynistic language that has recently become particularly visible on digital platforms.

Masculinity is perceived as a role that must never be shaken

Stating that recent incidents extending from school environments to professional groups, often becoming visible on digital platforms, point to a deviation that can harm society, Asst. Prof. Nihan Kalkandeler Özdin said, “This picture raises a broad question about how masculinity is constructed, how it is learned, and how it is reproduced in digital spaces. Today, masculinity is still largely defined through power, control, and sexual success, and this is not a coincidence. Because men have been taught for years that being valuable means appearing strong, being dominant, and maintaining emotional distance, it has become difficult to associate masculinity with vulnerability, equality, or caregiving practices. Frankly, as long as masculinity is perceived as a role that must not be shaken, we move away from human relationships based on equality. In some cases, masculinity can manifest itself in harsher, more exclusionary, and more domineering forms in an effort to reclaim power that is felt to have been lost.”

Digital spaces make violence visible

Addressing why misogynistic language produced in digital spaces so easily finds a counterpart in real life with the widespread use of the internet, Asst. Prof. Nihan Kalkandeler Özdin said, “One of the most important reasons why misogynistic language produced in digital spaces and digital subcultures so easily finds a counterpart in real life is the sense of distance created by digital environments. Closed groups, anonymity, and the framing of statements as jokes cause boundaries to become flexible. Over time, this language ceases to be merely an online form of expression and becomes normalized as part of everyday relationships. On the one hand, there is a freedom that creates a sense of ‘I can say anything, I can express myself without censorship’ and impunity; on the other hand, there is the reality of recklessly commodifying another person’s privacy. We can say that language plays a decisive role here. Expressions that objectify, demean, or belittle women become ordinary as they are repeated, and as they become ordinary, they become unquestioned. This shows that the boundary between the digital sphere and real life is far more permeable than is often assumed.”

WhatsApp groups can turn into spaces where masculinity is validated

Using WhatsApp groups as an example, Asst. Prof. Nihan Kalkandeler Özdin stated that spaces which may seem innocent at first glance can over time turn into platforms where masculinity is collectively validated and reinforced. She said, “To give an example through WhatsApp groups, it may seem innocent for a group of people to create a WhatsApp group as a platform for sharing and communication. However, when such a group is formed by men and the communication established produces a shared language that objectifies women, this creates a distinct area that requires questioning. When these types of WhatsApp groups become spaces where masculinity is collectively validated, performed, and reinforced, we find ourselves in a socially significant impasse. The content shared in these groups often functions as a mechanism of belonging and approval among men. The language constructed through women strengthens the internal cohesion of the group while reproducing a particular form of masculinity as normal and acceptable.”

Bullying becomes a language of belonging

Stating that bullying is also an outcome of this cultural ground, Asst. Prof. Nihan Kalkandeler Özdin said, “The fact that bullying and violence become a language of belonging among boys is closely related to how emotions are managed. Boys are often taught not to express fear, vulnerability, or feelings of inadequacy, but to suppress them. Suppressed emotions are frequently expressed outwardly as anger and aggression. At this point, bullying becomes not just an individual behavior, but a way of belonging to the group, being visible, and being accepted. Moreover, violence is learned and rewarded as a form of communication.”

Why is the problem noticed late?

Asst. Prof. Nihan Kalkandeler Özdin also evaluated why such behaviors are not noticed in a timely manner and continued as follows: “If we ask why this situation is not noticed in time, we can say that while education and professional life practices often focus on success, discipline, and performance, relational and ethical dimensions are pushed into the background. Definitions such as ‘successful student,’ ‘professional,’ or ‘exemplary employee’ often remain limited to academic or professional competence. Masculinity, on the other hand, is accepted as an invisible norm and therefore is not recognized as a problem area. This leads to early warning signs being overlooked and problems becoming visible only during moments of crisis. The fact that such behaviors often emerge in closed male groups points to an issue related more to culture than to supervision. Closed spaces become environments where masculinity is reproduced without being questioned, where boundaries are tested and often crossed. This shows that the problem is not limited to a few bad examples, but that similar behaviors can recur when certain conditions are in place.”

Pointing out that defining this situation merely as deviation or moral collapse is not sufficient, Asst. Prof. Nihan Kalkandeler Özdin concluded, “On the other hand, we can say that this issue is not only a problem for women, but also for men. Because this form of masculinity also isolates men and impoverishes them emotionally. The solution lies in equipping boys from an early age with the skills to recognize their emotions, learn boundaries, and build equal relationships. The core issue is how masculinity is taught, which behaviors are rewarded, and which silences are maintained. Masculinity needs to be redefined. We can focus on constructing a masculinity grounded not in power but in responsibility, not in domination but in equality, not in silence but in confrontation. Otherwise, this crisis will continue to appear before us in different forms and in different spaces, whether real or virtual.”