İstanbul Ticaret Üniversitesi Girişimcilik Dergisi, cilt.8, sa.18, ss.131-151, 2025 (Hakemli Dergi)
This study examines how women entrepreneurs in the e-commerce sector in
Turkey are represented in the media, analyzing the current situation with a
focus on marketing success. Using qualitative thematic analysis, news content
published on various platforms such as Marketing Türkiye, Hürriyet, Dünya
Gazetesi, BloombergHT, and Patronlar Dünyası was scanned, and marketing
discourses about women entrepreneurs and how the identity of women
entrepreneurs is emphasized were coded. The sample of the research consists of
5 different women entrepreneurs included in 12 news texts published between
2021-2025. The results show that female e-commerce entrepreneurs are generally
highlighted in the media for their business and marketing successes and
economic contributions, that their female identities are emphasized and
presented in the context of gender equality and inspiration, and that they are
appreciated for their digital marketing strategies and brand-building skills.
In media discourse, women entrepreneurs are represented as leaders contributing
to the national economy and as success stories serving as examples for other
women. These representations can contribute to breaking down social prejudices
by presenting women entrepreneurs in a positive and empowering light. However,
the occasional overemphasis on traditional roles or women entrepreneurs carries
the risk of presenting women's entrepreneurship as something extraordinary. In
conclusion, it is argued that women entrepreneurs in the e-commerce sector in
Turkey are generally represented positively in the media regarding success and
inspiration. However, it is important to diversify these representations
sustainably and present them with a balanced perspective.