A Hybrid Ecosystem for Combating Violence Against Women in Turkey: The Digital Sphere, Institutional Protection Mechanisms, and the Link to Employment

Abstract

Violence against women remains one of the most visible and multidimensional consequences of gender inequality in Türkiye. In recent years, the process of digitalization has transformed not only the forms of violence but also the spaces in which violence occurs and the strategies developed to combat it. The interconnections between digital violence, institutional protection mechanisms, civil society initiatives, and women’s employment indicate that the struggle against violence against women has evolved into a multilayered and hybrid structure. This study aims to examine the fight against violence against women in Türkiye through the concept of a “hybrid struggle ecosystem.” Within this framework, digital violence and digital feminist activism, experiences of women’s shelters and guesthouses, the professional capacities of social work practitioners, the role of civil society organizations, and employment policies are analyzed together. The findings highlight that repeated applications to guesthouses and women’s limited access to economic independence reinforce the cyclical nature of violence. The study concludes that combating violence against women cannot be limited to legal and institutional interventions alone. Instead, it emphasizes the necessity of developing an integrated and coordinated approach that connects digital spaces, institutional protection mechanisms, and employment policies. The hybrid struggle ecosystem perspective offers an analytical framework to support such a holistic approach and to contribute to future policy development processes.