Affiliations: [a] Department of International Relations, Işık
University, Istanbul, Turkey
Correspondence:
[*]
Corresponding author: Rabia Karakaya Polat, Department of
International Relations, Işık University, Istanbul, Turkey. E-mail:
rabia@isikun.edu.tr
Abstract: Underrepresentation of women in Turkish politics is well documented.
This is evident in the numbers of women in key decision-making positions,
including the Parliament. The role of women's NGOs is significant in educating,
motivating and mobilizing women to participate in politics. These organizations
increasingly use the Internet for mobilization, opinion formation, recruitment,
networking, lobbying and fundraising. The paper explores the extent to which
and the ways in which Ka-der as a WNGOs is affected by the Internet, both in
terms of its structure and operation, including its relationships with members
and adherents and in the way Ka-der communicates with external actors, such as
similar organizations, potential members, politicians and the media. We argue
that different functions of WNGOs are supported asymmetrically by the Internet.
While the e-mail group is mostly used for internal purposes, the website and
the use of social media serve to enhance links with the outside
environment.
Keywords: Internet and civil society, internet and women's NGOs, internet and NGOs, Ka-Der, Turkey
