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Swiss Television SRF Visited My Office: Talking About Beauty Surgery, Societal Norms, and Körpereigensinn

Recently, I had the pleasure of welcoming Swiss Television SRF to my office at the Orient-Institut Istanbul. The SRF team was in Istanbul to prepare a documentary for the health program “PULS”, focusing on the growing phenomenon of medical tourism from Switzerland to Turkey in the field of aesthetic and plastic surgery.

In the interview, I had the opportunity to share insights from my research on beauty practices and body-related interventions in Turkey, particularly from my project “Hairyless Masculinities”, which explores male beauty ideals, hair transplants, and the increasing societal pressure on men to conform to certain standards of appearance.

We discussed questions such as:

  • Why has Turkey become a leading destination for beauty surgeries, especially in the face and hair sectors?
  • What social and cultural dynamics are driving this development?
  • How do people navigate these beauty norms, and where does Körpereigensinn emerge—that is, a self-determined, embodied resistance to societal expectations?

One of the key aspects we reflected on was the cultural centrality of the face and hair in the Turkish context, shaped by religious, social, and media influences.

The interview was conducted by Daniela Lager, who led the conversation with great curiosity and sensitivity. I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to Daniela Lager and the entire SRF production team for the professional, warm atmosphere during the filming.

A special thanks also to Joël Baumann for the thoughtful and inspiring conversations we had in advance of the filming, which really helped shape the direction of our exchange.

👉 Some snapshots from the filming and our conversation can be found below.

I look forward to watching the documentary, which will be aired in autumn 2025 on SRF’s “PULS” program.

On Air: Talking Bodies, Aesthetics, and Masculinities

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of being a guest on the program #GündelikHayatınSosyolojisi on Apaçık Radyo, where I spoke about Hair:y_less Masculinities and my current research at Orient-Institut Istanbul as Head of the Science, Technology and Society research field.

In this episode, we explored how aesthetic interventions are not merely individual choices but are increasingly shaped by social expectations, technological affordances, and gendered norms. Drawing from my ethnographic research in Turkey and Iran, I discussed how beauty standards and body modifications are deeply entangled with cultural and political contexts, especially in the case of masculinities.

Three women are seated in a radio studio behind large microphones, with visible reflection on the glass. From left to right: Melike Şahinol is speaking into a microphone; Gülşah Başkavak is looking down at her notes; Ayşe Berna Uçarol is holding a pen and smiling while listening. The studio background displays the logo of Apaçık Radyo.

Live in the studio at Apaçık Radyo. From left to right: Melike Şahinol, Gülşah Başkavak, and Ayşe Berna Uçarol during a recorded conversation on bodies, care, and technology.

We touched on themes such as:
— How aesthetic practices shape and are shaped by male identities
— The political significance of facial hair in Turkey and hairstyle norms in Iran
— Why interventions like hair/beard transplants procedures should be viewed as socio-(bio-)technical practices, shaped by cultural norms, corporeal situatedness, and technological infrastructures.

These reflections emerge from my broader interest in how digital and medical technologies co-produce social orders and bodily practices, a topic I approach from the perspective of body sociology and STS.

The full interview is available here:
https://apacikradyo.com.tr/program/244063/kayit-arsivi

A transcript of the conversation will be uploaded soon, which will allow for English translation and broader accessibility.

Thanks to Açık Radyo and Dr. Ayşe Berna Uçarol for the invitation and to everyone who tuned in!

Three women are sitting closely together on a step in front of the Açık Radyo building in Istanbul. From left to right: Gülşah Başkavak is wearing a blue shirt, Ayşe Berna Uçarol a light cardigan, and Melike Şahinol a black blazer. Behind them is a large window with plants and the Apaçık Radyo logo, as well as a sign and the building number 7.

Post-recording reflections at Apaçık Radyo. From left to right: Gülşah Başkavak, Ayşe Berna Uçarol, and Melike Şahinol in front of the iconic Açık Radyo studio in Istanbul. After an engaging conversation on care, technology, and the body on air, we took a moment to enjoy the spring light and share a smile. A big thank you to Açık Radyo for the invitation and hospitality!

#BodySociology #Masculinities #Aesthetics #ScienceAndSociety #STS #MelikeSahinol #AcikRadyo #DigitalBodies #CulturalTechnologies #MedicalAesthetics #GündelikHayatınSosyolojisi