The Theme of Women in Corporate Social Responsibility Practices: An Analysis of Banks Listed in the BIST 100 Index

Abstract

Purpose – The aim of this study is to analyze the women-themed practices carried out within the scope of corporate social responsibility (CSR) by banks listed in the Borsa Istanbul (BIST) 100 index. This analysis is based on Carroll’s four-dimensional CSR model to reveal how these activities are structured by the banks.
Design/methodology/approach – The study employs a content analysis method within the framework of Carroll’s CSR model (economic, legal, ethical, and philanthropic responsibilities) to examine women-themed content found in publicly available sustainability reports, integrated activity reports, and human resources policies published by large-scale banks in Turkey. Documents from 12 banks listed in the BIST 100 index were systematically analyzed, and the coding and categorization of the data were conducted using MAXQDA software.
Results – According to the analysis results, women-themed CSR applications are most prevalent in the areas of ethical and legal responsibility. Within the scope of ethical responsibilities, the development of diversity, equality and inclusion policies stands out significantly, while in legal responsibilities, compliance with gender equality legislation, internal regulations against harassment and violence, and anti-discrimination practices are noteworthy. In terms of economic and voluntary responsibilities, financial support programmes for women entrepreneurs, mentoring initiatives, financial literacy activities, and social contribution projects carried out with women's NGOs are noteworthy.
Discussion – The findings reveal that large-scale banks in Turkey address women-themed CSR initiatives with a strategic and holistic approach. This indicates that CSR policies are not limited to corporate image, but also contribute to the transformation process focused on gender equality. Given the limited number of studies examining women-themed CSR practices in the banking sector based on Carroll's four-dimensional model, this study makes a meaningful contribution to the literatüre.