Prototype research as a qualitative method for studying academic life under illiberalism: the case of Turkey

Academics working in the fields of gender studies (gender, women and masculinity studies) navigate a unique set of professional challenges, including institutional discrimination, societal pushback, and political pressures related to their research. This article presents the results of twelve semi-structured interviews with gender studies scholars in Turkey, illustrating their struggles, coping strategies, and the solidarity (or lack thereof) within their academic environments. Via what we refer as Prototype Research, we create archetypes based on the experiences of these individuals, we illuminate the structural barriers they face, the diverse methods of coping, and the ambivalence of institutional support, particularly within the context of Turkey's increasingly conservative and authoritarian political climate. These prototypes provide an insight to the pressing issues faced by gender studies scholars in Turkey and emphasize the need for more proactive institutional measures to protect academic freedom and support scholars in contentious fields.