Domestic Rivalries as Daytime Spectacle: An Analysis of In-Law Cooking Competitions

Abstract

Daytime television in Turkey has long been dominated by reality shows focused on intra-familial relations. A particular trend that stands out is the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law cooking competition shows. These formats with their domestic aesthetics, transform the typically private dynamics of family life into a televised spectacle. This article examines how two popular shows, Zuhal Topal’la Sofrada and Gelinim Mutfakta, frame the in-law relationship as a site of both domestic rivalry and power negotiation. Drawing on discourse analysis and Foucauldian theories of power, the study explores how these formats re-construct domestic power dynamics and reflect the broader neoconservative family policies of contemporary Turkey. By reframing the in-law dynamic as an entertainment format, they reinforce patriarchal narratives while simultaneously exposing the tensions and contradictions within them. The in-law cooking competitions highlight the way television can both reflect and transform traditional gender roles within the context of Turkish culture.