The Status of Women in the Modern Turkey: Do they have a Name?

Arslan Seval (Fatih University, Istanbul, Turkey) [BIO]

Email: seval_arslan@hotmail.com

 

ABSTRACT:

The foundation of the Turkish Republic in 1923 opened the way for the improvement of the situation of women in the country. Women´s rights have been substantially improved since. As one of the most important immediate changes, Turkish women were among the first ones in the world who were granted the right to vote. The writings of the early Turkish feminists suggest that most of these changes were made for the sake of the republic rather than for the women themselves. The changes in the society improved the position of women in both education and workplace. We observe some persisting elements of inequality but that does not imply that women´s voice cannot be heard. A famous contemporary Turkish feminist Duygu Asena claims that women do not have a name in Turkey because they are subordinate to men. Men can do anything they want while women have to take their approval to do something. Although we cannot claim that Duygu Asena is totally wrong about her thesis, it is also important to see the two faced status of women in Turkey. When we look at these two faces, it is observable that one group of women does have a name while the other does not. And the group that has the name is trying to enable the other to have a name and to fight for that name. In my paper, I am going to try to show both faces of women’s status in the Turkish society and that women actually do have a name, however, it still needs some time and struggle for all of them to become aware of this name to claim it.