Social Media and Female Athletes in Turkey
Chapter from the book:
Zorba,
E.
&
Ağılönü,
A.
(eds.)
2024.
Sports Paradigms- V.
Synopsis
Social media has become an important tool for athletes to promote themselves, develop their careers, and reach large audiences. For female athletes, these platforms hold even greater significance due to their limited representation in traditional media. Female athletes in Turkey gain more visibility in the sports world by sharing their achievements, training processes, and personal stories through social media. However, one of the biggest challenges they face in this process is gender bias and cyberbullying. Female athletes' social media posts are often met with comments focusing on their physical appearance rather than their achievements, reflecting the societal perceptions in Turkey. Despite this, social media presents a powerful opportunity for female athletes. Athletes in team sports such as football, volleyball, and basketball use these platforms to increase their individual brand value and establish stronger connections with their fans. Moreover, social media has proven to be an effective tool in raising awareness about gender inequality. Supporting female athletes’ use of social media in Turkey can positively impact both their careers and the societal perception of equality. In this context, improving the social media experiences of athletes and developing strategies to combat gender-based prejudices are of great importance.