"Heroines and Their Socio-Cultural Roles in the Turkish Cypriot and Gagauz Folk Tales" (Kıbrıs Ve Gagavuz Türk Halk Masallarındaki Kadın Kahramanlar Ve Sosyo-Kültürel Rolleri), the article co-authored by Burak GÖKBULUT and Mustafa YENİASIR, associate professors at the Faculty of Arts and Sciences of Near East University, was published in the Journal of Balkan Research Institute that scanned in national and international indexes such as ULAKBİM and Web of Science.

According to the press release issued by the Directorate of Press and Public Relations Office of Near East University, faculty members Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mustafa YENİASIR and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Burak GÖKBULUT's study unveils that Turkish Cypriot and Gagauz folk tales contain many social, cultural, psychological and educational features in themselves.

Stating that the texture of family and society, local-folkloric elements, heroines' attitudes and points of views in the tale, and the narrative context of the tale reflects the social, cultural, psychological and educational aspect of the narratives respectively, the researchers underline that the tales are very important folk narratives.

Importance is attached on Status and Personality...
The study presents data that variety and diversity of heroines of the Turkish Cypriot and Gagauz folk tales are significantly remarkable (North Cyprus: 240% - Gagauz: 190%). As the heroines in the folk tales stand out with their personalities, the study underlines that societies attach importance on personalities rather than appearance and status. On the other hand, the findings of the study reveal that status is another element taken into consideration by 105% in North Cyprus and by 45% in Gagauzia.

Women have important functions and aspects in tales…
Based on the research results on the functions and roles of woman characters in the folk tales of both countries, the study emphasizes that many women have important roles that directly affect the plot of tales. For example; the main issue of a tale, in which a step mother involved, is shaped on the stepmother and her behavior. The attitudes and the positions of the jealous mother-in-law and the sisters against the bride (Northern Cyprus) constitute the main event and gripping point of a tale, in which a jealous mother-in-law and sisters involved. Female characters in supporting roles also have significant aspects and functions in the storyline of the tales. The study presents data that women characters in Turkish Cypriot and Gagauz folk tales In Turkish folk tales generally play their roles well and fulfill what expected from them in the traditional Turkish Cypriot and Gagauz family structure. In most of the Turkish Cypriot folk tales reviewed within the scope of the study, a woman is identified with a good mother and good spouse, who cleans her house, who cooks food, who tries to raise her children in the best way, who does not get married with another man when her husband died, and who tries to raise her children in the best way even though she is a widow.

In Gagauz folk tales, woman exhibits a protective character faithful to her husband and children. Besides, woman appears as a woman type who is devoted her husband and manages her home well. When the tales of the two countries are compared, it is seen that women are extremely important and overused characters in Turkish Cypriot folk tales. When the results acquired from literature review on Turkish Cypriot and Gagauz folk tales are compared, it can be said that woman characters have a more important and prominent role in Turkish Cypriot folk tales. When the general social structure is penetrated sociologically, it is clearly seen that women have a very prominent place in Turkish Cypriot community. It is an undeniable fact that women with negative characteristics and bad roles appear in the folk tales of both societies as well. However, in general, a positive perception for women is encountered in the society.