With support from the Vehbi Koç Foundation, KOÇ-KAM Research Funds Program was initiated in 2011 in order to encourage and promote gender-related research in Türkiye and to raise awareness on gender issues. KOC-KAM allocates funds to selected outstanding research proposals for the completion of academic research in various disciplines focusing on gender-related issues in Türkiye. An independent scientific panel evaluates the applications and selects research proposals that qualify for financial support. KOÇ-KAM is the only institution in Türkiye that provides financial support specifically to gender-related research.
The number of selected projects and the amount of awards vary according to the availability of grants and the scientific quality of the proposed research projects. The projects are evaluated on the basis of their unique contribution to gender studies.
Within the scope of 2011 KOÇ-KAM Research Funds Program, 10 projects were awarded funds amounting to 419.000 TL in total.
| Project Title | Researcher | Objectives |
| Nursing School Students’ Attitudes about Gender Roles in Türkiye | Fatma Başar
Marmara University, Ph.D. Candidate |
To investigate the factors affecting nursing school students’ attitudes on traditional gender roles |
| Gender in Irregular Migration: A Comparison of International Migration Policies and Migrants’ Experiences in Türkiye and Morocco | Ayşen E. Üstübici
Koç University, Ph.D. Candidate |
To explore the implementation of immigration laws and gendered experiences of transit / irregular migrants’ in Türkiye and Morocco situated at the periphery of Europe |
| Through the Eyes of the Victimized Children | Pınar Akkuş
İstanbul University, Ph.D. Candidate |
To assess services provided by the Social Services and the Children’s Protection Institution of Türkiye (SHÇEK) to sexually abused girls under protection by this institution |
| The Construction of Femininity and Masculinity in Friday Sermons | Asst. Prof. Hande Eslen Ziya
Bahçeşehir University |
To analyze the contents of the mosque sermons given on Fridays and their role in the transformation of gender roles |
| Religion and Gender Equality in Türkiye | Prof. Serpil Sancar
Ankara University |
To understand how religious services given by state institutions to Sunni citizens in Türkiye interpret equal rights between men and women and approach gender equality |
| Invisible Labor | Asst. Prof. Feryal Saygılıgil
İstanbul Arel University |
To investigate women’s perceptions of household labor and factors that affect their perceptions |
| Women Delinquency and Femininity in Prison in Türkiye | Assoc. Prof.
İpek Merçil Galatasaray University |
To review general factors leading to women’s imprisonment in Türkiye and the conditions of women’s prisons |
| Key Success Factors for Women Entrepreneurs in Comparison to Their Male Counterparts | Prof. Hayat Kabasakal
Boğaziçi University |
To gain insights about the key success factors in entrepreneurial careers, comparing the factors for women with those of men |
| Gender and War in First World War in the Ottoman Empire | Zeynep Kutluata
Sabancı University, Ph.D. Candidate |
To investigate Muslim Ottoman women’s forms of involvement and experiences in the First World War |
| Universality and Cultural Relativity Discourse in Criminal Proceedings Related to Cases of Violence Against Migrant Women: The Case of Germany | Sevinç Eryılmaz
İstanbul Bilgi University, Ph.D. Candidate |
To examine the criminal proceedings processes of cases of domestic violence against migrant Turkish women and/or the issue of honor crimes in Germany |
The second round of KOÇ-KAM Research Funds was announced in Spring 2012. 6 research projects were awarded funds amounting to 242.000 TL in total
| Project Title | Researcher | Objectives |
| “Marginal” and “Partner in crime” Masculinity: Murderer Husbands and Middle-Class Men are speaking from the Black Sea region! | Yasemin Yüce Tar
19 Mayıs University |
To explore the mentalities and masculinity productions at the basis of women’s murders by their husbands through interviews with imprisoned “murderer husbands” and 30-50 years old married, professional middle class men in the Black Sea Region of Türkiye |
| The Experience of Women Workers in the Early Periods of Labor Migration From Türkiye To Germany | Assoc. Prof.
Ayfer Suna Bartu Candan Boğaziçi University |
To examine the working conditions and migration experiences of the early migrant women workers from Türkiye to German (1961-1973) and the cultural and structural factors that shape these experiences |
| Analysis of Sport and Physical Activity Experiences of Three Generations of
Women (Daughters, Mothers and Grandmothers) with Regard To Socio-Ecological Model and Cultural Feminist Studies Approach |
Assoc. Prof.
Canan Koca Arıtan Hacettepe University |
To analyze the sports and physical activity experiences of three generations of women (daughters, mothers and grandmothers) with regard to the socio-ecological model and the cultural feminist studies approach |
| Vaginismus: Embodiment of Modernity and Negotiations with
Biomedical Authority in Türkiye |
Neslihan Şen
University of Illinois at Chicago, Ph.D. Candidate |
To understand the complex relationship between sexuality, women’s bodies and political processes in Türkiye through an exploration of vaginismus, a common female sexual disorder in Türkiye |
| The Analysis of Decision-Making Processes of Judges and Prosecutors in Sexual Assault Cases with regard to the Phenomenon of Evidence | Özlem Çolak
İstanbul University, Ph.D. Candidate |
To analyze the legal mechanisms of dealing with crimes against sexual inviolability from the perspective of feminist legal theory; to investigate how evidence in sexual violence cases are interpreted by judges and prosecutors |
| Predictors of Attitudes Towards Women | Asst. Prof.
Aslı Bugay TED University |
To explore university students’ attitudes towards women in the framework of the Gender Schema Theory. |
The projects are evaluated based on unique contribution with respect to their topic and objectives and on their employment of methodologies that fit the objectives. Potential contribution of the project results to scientific knowledge are also considered.
7 projects were awarded within the scope of 2015 KOÇ-KAM Research Funds Program.
| Project Title | Project Title |
| Empowerment and Women in Alevi Community | Aysegül Akdemir
(University of Essex) |
| Gendered Experiences in Environmental Movements: the Case Study of Bergama Movement in Türkiye |
Cevahir Özgüler
(Civil Society Development Center STGM) |
| Türk Diplomasisinde Toplumsal Cinsiyet: Değişen Normlar ve Pratikler | Doç. Dr. Bahar Rumelili
(Koç University) |
| Güvensiz Sığınaklarda Güvenlik Sırları: Tehdit ve Şiddet Sarmalında Kadın ve Lgbti Bireyler | MEHTAP TOSUN
(Middle East Technical University) |
| Imperial Queers, Republican Subjects: the Politics of Queer Historiography in Türkiye | Rüstem Ertuğ Altınay
(New York University) |
| Toplumsal Cinsiyet ve Yaşlanan Bedenler: Huzurevlerindeki Kadınların Deneyimleri | Yrd.Doç. Başak Can
(Koç University) |
| Toplumsal Cinsiyet ve Aile: Kadınlarin Ebeveynlik Davranış ve Yeterlikleriyle İlişkisi | Yrd. Doç. Berna Akçinar
(Işık University) |