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Reposted by Dr. Elif Sari Genc

Politics & Gender @politicsgenderj.bsky.social · May 20

📣 Out on #FirstView 📣

In "Symbolic Leverage" @elifsarigenc.bsky.social‬ examines how (non)veiled women are strategically nominated by political parties to run for mayoral seats as an appeal to rival party voters.

🌟Available #OpenAccess🌟
polisky gendersky
buff.ly/AFH8fe3

Research article entitled "Symbolic Leverage: Nominating (Non)veiled Women as an Electoral Competition Strategy in Polarized Turkey" by Elif Sari-Genc.
Abstract begins: Do party elites strategically nominate (non)veiled women? While research exists on Muslim-minority countries, little is known about the dynamics of such strategies in Muslim-majority contexts, where the interplay of Islam, secularism, gender, and veiling is complex. To address this gap, I examine electoral competition in Turkey, investigating whether parties strategically nominate (non)veiled women for mayoral seats in opposing party strongholds to capitalize on the political symbols associated with women’s identities — a strategy I term “symbolic leverage.” Using an original dataset, elite interviews, and electoral discourse analysis, I find that parties leverage the symbolic value of veiled and nonveiled women candidates to appeal to rival party voters.

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Dr. Elif Sari Genc @elifsarigenc.bsky.social · May 19

Read the full open access article here: www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
#PoliticalScience #GenderSky #ElectoralStrategy #NewResearch #OpenAccess #SymbolicPolitics #AcademicSky
#TurkishPolitics
#PoliticsofVeiling
#Electionsky
#AffectivePolarization
#Emotions
#PoliticalSymbols

Symbolic Leverage: Nominating (Non)veiled Women as an Electoral Competition Strategy in Polarized Turkey | Politics & Gender | Cambridge Core

Symbolic Leverage: Nominating (Non)veiled Women as an Electoral Competition Strategy in Polarized Turkey

www.cambridge.org

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Dr. Elif Sari Genc @elifsarigenc.bsky.social · May 19

for their valuable feedback on earlier drafts of this article. Your insights made this work much stronger. 🙏

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Dr. Elif Sari Genc @elifsarigenc.bsky.social · May 19

I am deeply grateful to the anonymous reviewers, the editorial team of @politicsgenderj.bsky.social, Lindsay J. Benstead, Jill Greenlee, @meralugurcinar.bsky.social, Esra Issever-Ekinci, Lucie Drechselova, @orcunselcuk.bsky.social, and @ozlemtuncel.bsky.social ...

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Dr. Elif Sari Genc @elifsarigenc.bsky.social · May 19

It demonstrates how elites' decisions regarding female candidate nominations are profoundly shaped by deeply entrenched cultural cleavages & how women candidates are strategically selected to compete in challenging districts where their identities offer distinct electoral advantages.

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Dr. Elif Sari Genc @elifsarigenc.bsky.social · May 19

This research foregrounds affective polarization and political symbols as the primary drivers shaping both the strategic inclusion of women in politics and their instrumentalization within broader electoral campaigns. #AffectivePolarization

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Dr. Elif Sari Genc @elifsarigenc.bsky.social · May 19

A key contribution of this study is the introduction of a novel theory of 'symbolic leverage,' explaining how party elites strategically deploy women's (non)veiling status for electoral gain in the highly polarized, Muslim-majority context of Turkey.

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Dr. Elif Sari Genc @elifsarigenc.bsky.social · May 19

Interviews with Islamist party elites show that nominating nonveiled women serves to signal tolerance for secular lifestyles, assuage Islamization concerns, attract swing voters, and project a democratic image and commitment to gender equality.

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Dr. Elif Sari Genc @elifsarigenc.bsky.social · May 19

In this research, I find that political parties in Turkey strategically leverage the symbolic value of veiled and nonveiled women candidates to appeal to rival party voters, particularly in highly polarized electoral contexts.

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Dr. Elif Sari Genc @elifsarigenc.bsky.social · May 19

Thrilled to announce my new article, "Symbolic Leverage: Nominating (Non)Veiled Women as an Electoral Competition Strategy in Polarized Turkey," is now published in @politicsgenderj.bsky.social and available as First View (Open Access)! 🇹🇷♀️🗳️ (Thread 👇)
#SymbolicLeverage #TurkishPolitics

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Dr. Elif Sari Genc @elifsarigenc.bsky.social · May 1

Daha az seyahat edip daha çok buluşmalıyız Hocam, katılıyorum kahve kritik önem taşıyor 😍

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Dr. Elif Sari Genc @elifsarigenc.bsky.social · Apr 30

Navigating fieldwork during such tremendous political turmoil taught important lessons, which I'll share in a separate piece soon. Stay tuned!
#PoliticalScience #ComparativePolitics #WomenInPolitics #Academicsky #TurkeyPolitics
#Fieldwork
#EliteInterview

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Dr. Elif Sari Genc @elifsarigenc.bsky.social · Apr 30

Feeling very grateful for the support of Deniz Sert & @cimencim.bsky.social for hosting me this semester at @ozyeginuni.bsky.social Immense gratitude also to all interviewees sharing perspectives wholeheartedly amidst a tumultuous political crisis. #Fieldwork
#EliteInterview

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Dr. Elif Sari Genc @elifsarigenc.bsky.social · Apr 30

Simultaneously, I had the profound pleasure of teaching comparative women's leadership & representation at @ozyeginuni.bsky.social Engaging w/ brilliant students in my home country, discussing insights from literature & my long-term fieldwork, was a true highlight! ✨ #Teaching

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Dr. Elif Sari Genc @elifsarigenc.bsky.social · Apr 30

This news is special timing-wise, as I just wrapped up follow-up fieldwork here in Turkey! This work provides crucial input for my book project, building upon & extending the article's findings & laying crucial groundwork. 🇹🇷📚 #Fieldwork #BookProject #EliteInterview

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Dr. Elif Sari Genc @elifsarigenc.bsky.social · Apr 30

Another special thank you to Lindsay Benstead, who has always been a very supportive & tremendous guide.
More detailed findings & acknowledgments to come...

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Dr. Elif Sari Genc @elifsarigenc.bsky.social · Apr 30

Huge thanks to the @politicsgenderj.bsky.social editorial team & anonymous reviewers for their invaluable feedback. (A special and heartfelt thank you to the reviewer who noted, "I appreciated the qualitative analysis of the party's motivations" – your comment was truly appreciated!)
#EliteInterview

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Dr. Elif Sari Genc @elifsarigenc.bsky.social · Apr 30

By examining how these candidate selections function as 'symbolic leverage' and conceptualizing the mechanisms and elite motivations behind this strategy, I find that parties leverage the symbolic value of veiled and nonveiled women candidates to appeal to rival party voters.
#Electionsky
#Gendersky

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Dr. Elif Sari Genc @elifsarigenc.bsky.social · Apr 30

In this paper, I analyze the strategic nomination of (Non)veiled women as a tool for electoral competition within Turkey's highly polarized political environment. #GenderPolitics #Turkey #SymbolicPolitics #Gendersky #Electionsky

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Dr. Elif Sari Genc @elifsarigenc.bsky.social · Apr 30

Some exciting professional news! My article, "Symbolic Leverage: Nominating (Non)veiled Women as an Electoral Competition Strategy in Polarized Turkey," has been officially accepted & is forthcoming in @politicsgenderj.bsky.social! I couldn't be more delighted! 🎉 #Gendersky

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Dr. Elif Sari Genc @elifsarigenc.bsky.social · Apr 30

Simultaneously, I had the profound pleasure of teaching comparative women's leadership & representation at @ozyeginuni.bsky.social Engaging w/ brilliant students in my home country, discussing insights from literature & my long-term fieldwork, was a true highlight! ✨ #Teaching

Dr. Elif Sari Genc @elifsarigenc.bsky.social · Apr 30

This news is special timing-wise, as I just wrapped up follow-up fieldwork here in Turkey! This work provides crucial input for my book project, building upon & extending the article's findings & laying crucial groundwork. 🇹🇷📚 #Fieldwork #BookProject

1

Dr. Elif Sari Genc @elifsarigenc.bsky.social · Apr 30

Another special thank you to Lindsay Benstead, who has always been a very supportive & tremendous guide. More detailed findings & acknowledgments to come...

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Dr. Elif Sari Genc @elifsarigenc.bsky.social · Apr 30

Huge thanks to the @politicsgenderj.bsky.social editorial team & anonymous reviewers for their invaluable feedback! 🙏 (Especially appreciated the reviewer who noted the qualitative analysis of motivations - thank you!)

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Dr. Elif Sari Genc @elifsarigenc.bsky.social · Apr 30

It examines how these candidate selections function as 'symbolic leverage' & conceptualizes the mechanisms and elite motivations driving such a strategy. #SymbolicPolitics #Elections

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