Gender and Sexuality Studies

Abstract

Perception of body and health and its relation to self are among the topics that are taking a lot of attention lately with a noticeable rise in interest in unorthodox medical treatments, such as bioresonance, particularly in urban areas. Istanbul, in particular, has seen a growing number of clinics and hospitals offering bioresonance therapy, and patients seeking the support of bioresonance. One point that clearly attracts my attention is that notably, the majority of patients, approximately more that 80%, of those seeking and utilizing this treatment are women.
Then, my observation raises a question: Why is there an increasing demand for bioresonance in Istanbul, especially among women, despite the city's extensive network of well-equipped private and public hospitals, polyclinics, and doctors providing conventional orthodox medical care supported by state social security?
The aim of my presentation in this congress is to provide a partial explanation to this question. Therefore, I will focus on how the bioresonance treatment is perceived and how it relates to users’ conceptualizations of their bodies and selves since this is an important dimension to answer my queston in addition to state policy regarding unorthodox unconventional medicine.  
My presentation for this congress is based on analysis of 15 in-depth interviews I conducted with women in Istanbul who use bioresonance therapy, as well as insights from one bioresonance doctor and one distributor of Bioresonance machines.

Biography

Dr. Melin Levent Yuna holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in Sociology and a PhD in Cultural Anthropology. She has taught at various universities in Istanbul and currently serves as a professor at Acibadem University. In addition to her academic roles, Dr. Yuna has worked as a research project manager and academic consultant for prominent research firms in Istanbul, including TRIO, TNS, GFK, Ipsos, and Futurebright. She also contributed to the World Health Organization’s anthropological Health Care Research Project in Turkey.
Dr. Yuna has published articles in esteemed journals in Turkey and the United Kingdom, including the Journal of Social History (Toplumsal Tarih), Journal of Society and Science (Toplum ve Bilim), Journal of Anatolian Folk Beliefs, and the Edinburgh University Dance Research Journal. She has authored book chapters and books in Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the USA. Her most recent book, “Tango and the Dancing Body in Istanbul”, is published by Routledge – Taylor and Francis. Currently, Dr. Yuna is researching the use of unorthodox medicine in Turkey and how it relates to contemporary self and perception of body.