‘Strengthening [the] family’ through adult education in Turkey: a critical discourse analysis of a family education programme

AbstractThis paper discusses the scope of governmental interventions in families through adult education in the context of Turkey’s family-focused debates. The central question is to understand how ‘family’ is constructed in the family life education programme of the Ministry of Family and Social Services. Seven handbooks were chosen from the family education and communication module of the programme. Based on a critical discourse analysis of materials, we examined what textual devices and discursive practices were used to construct ‘family’ and what gendered messages were presented in the texts and visuals of the materials. This study revealed that the selected materials utilised several instruments to normalise the family as a privileged institution in society. In the texts, a heteronormative discourse with an emphasis on reproductivity was reinforced and no attention has been paid to diverse gender identities and family forms. The study also revealed that women were assigned as the primary care providers in the family. In this regard, it is argued that the lack of progressive or critical approaches to the conceptualisation of family limits the understanding of needs and educational practices available for families.Keywords: Adult educationgenderfamily life educationwomenfamily Author contributionThe work reported in this article is based on the first author’s dissertation study, which was completed in 2020. All authors contributed to the drafting and critical revision of the article, and they have approved the final modified version.Disclosure statementNo potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).Notes1 The Ministry of Family and Social Services (MoFSS) as of 2021.2 280 femicides and 217 suspicious deaths of women were recorded in 2021. Retrieved from http://kadincinayetlerinidurduracagiz.net3 The Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence. Better known as the ‘Istanbul Convention’ as it was opened for signature in 2011 in Istanbul.