Examining individuals’ views on sexist food names in Turkish Cuisine: A qualitative study

Abstract In the context of Türkiye, as in many other patriarchal societies, food names serve a function that reflects gender norms and, at times, makes references to sexuality. Such naming practices symbolically reproduce attributes associated with femininity and masculinity—such as strength, weakness, passivity, agency, obedience, and dominance—thereby contributing to the naturalization of gender-based hierarchies. In this context, the study adopts a cultural analysis approach within qualitative research designs. It aims to make visible individuals’ perspectives, perceptions, attitudes, and experiences regarding sexist food names in Turkish cuisine. The data for the study were collected through semi-structured, in-depth interviews and observations conducted with six participants residing in the provinces of Artvin and Şanlıurfa in Türkiye, who voluntarily provided informed consent. The findings indicate that participants interpret sexist food names through multi-layered and often contradictory and interwoven perspectives, such as gender equality, humor, cultural heritage, and linguistic, cultural, and historical context and continuity. The data obtained show that participants, on the one hand, normalize sexist food names, while on the other hand, they also problematize and question them. Since the study adopts a qualitative approach, the generalizability of the findings is limited; however, the results provide an in-depth and contextual understanding of the issue.