The question comes from yesterday :As a woman what do you see at the mirror?

The Turks had aimed independent and civilized states from the first known Turkish state Asian Hun through Ottoman Empire.However Geographical Discoveries and Industrian Revolution based in Western countries and loosing the value of Silk Road among East and West of the world,Ottoman Empire had biggest economical crises.The impact of these developments, the Empire has started to loose military strength and it obviously drowned away in big separation within nations in the country.

The brave soldier and statesman Mustafa Kemal Ataturk saved the Turkish nation away all these struggle.

Ataturk had defended his country as a brave soldier in the battlefield and demonsrated his patriotizm.He has moved patiently and well disciplined on his way.He would never hesitate speaking the truth and always explained his thoughts explicitly.He said ’’I need to express my thoughts in front of the nation.If anyhow there is mistake the people would refuse it.’’

He was rationalist and would always think in logic wise .’’There is nothing that the way of rational and wisdom thinking,cant solve’’he said and seeked the truth all his life.He would’t act for anything without well-planned and had forward-looking skills.Indepence War(Kurtuluş Savaşı) is enough evidence of how he is determined person on his road map.

Well educated nation is his strong desire as he focused to lift his country to the same level of contemporary Western civilization.

In all the biggest and most important reforms his leading,the women’s rights are one of the main part .Before going far we need to have a small look his(our country) background.We see there sharp sections:

Section 1: Turkish women before Islam

Turkish women have similar characteristics with men in Turkish society before Islam. She rides horses, throws arrows and uses swords like men.The first written sources about The Turks , mention Turkish women have respect and the rights in social and political process. It makes people happy when a woman gives birth to a baby girl. While the state making announcements the sentence would start with “Hakan and Hatun say,”This and many others clearly tell , Turkish women were socially and politically equal with men.

Section 2: Turkish women within the Islamic period

Although it wasn’t the main principal of Islam,somehow ,the customs and traditions of Arab nation also effected the life of Turkish women. One of the main reason women

life style and clothing was climate in all those countries.However It is accepted as if it is Islam rule in our side .Women could work with men at the field as an equal person but what about the rest of the life?

The answer of this question is loosing the value in society little by little .The women in palace had to live behind veils and in cages. Women couldn’t get equal heritage as men . At courts three women equal one man witnesses. The baby girl, which was happiness for Turkish families in the early eras, now is a frustration.Men could get marriage up to 3 or 4 women.

To change that Empire took held little measures in Tanzimat, I. and II.in Constitutional periods. A lot of famous poets and writers have put their efforts on their studies women situation. With the effect of these works the government took some limited steps that banned the polygamy and under aged girls marriage.

Section 3: Turkish women Republic period

“ if any society aims to make one of gender has modern basics ,but the others not then half of that society is weak. If one organ of a society works, but the other doesn’t; that society is paralyzed…” was one of Ataturk’s thought about women.

As a result , on 3rd of March in 1924, the Sheria Law was abolished. Wearing veils were banned and Western clothing was stimulated. In 1926, with the acceptance of civil code, polygamy was banned and women had equal heritage rights. And In 1934 women were given their political rights.

It is of course really important that political rights are given to Turkish women before many Western countries. But if we take a look at the rate of female members of parliaments,it would be very disappointed. In 20th century European parliament’s female member’s rate were 2.4, while in Turkey that rate was 4.5. On present-days that rate is 26-40 in European countries, but here in Turkey that rate is 1.4. Turkey parliament has 535 members, but only 77 female.

The girls in Turkey are subject to ‘’honor killing’’.The’’ child bride’’ is one of the biggest problem.It is sad knowing ‘’the fathers’’ the brothers’’ are the domain all those shamefull behavior with ignoring ‘’the mothers’’ gave them birth.

Women in Turkey still have very big potential to change this into the right track.Men and women fought together in Indepence War and established free country.Nothing can pull women down as we have Atatürk as leader and his direction .’’The power which we need to have is in our noble blood’’

 

Sources: 

ATATÜRK VE KADIN HAKLARI

Prof. Dr. TURHAN FEYZİOĞLU http://www.atam.gov.tr/dergi/sayi-06/ataturk-ve-kadin-haklari-2

ATATÜRK VE KADIN HAKLARI

Prof. Dr. EMEL DOĞRAMACI http://www.atam.gov.tr/dergi/sayi-24/ataturk-ve-kadin-haklari-4

KADINLARA SEÇME VE SEÇİLME HAKKI VERİLMESİNİN TÜRK KAMUOYUNDAKİ YANKILARI

SEVİLAY ÖZER Yrd. Doç. Dr., Cumhuriyet Üniversitesi, Edebiyat Fakültesi, Tarih Bölümü, Sivas/Türkiye, Atam Cilt:XXIX Tarih Mart 2013

ATATÜRK VE TÜRK KADINI

Prof. Dr. BEYZA BİLGİN http://dergiler.ankara.edu.tr/dergiler/37/775/9901.pdf

ÇAĞDAŞ UYGARLIĞIN MİHENK TAŞI:Türkiye’de Kadının Toplumsal Konumu

Doç.Dr.İHSAN ŞERİF KAYMAZ Gazi ÜNİVERSİTESİ Fen Edebiyat Fakültesi Tarih Bölümü

Ataürk Üniversitesi Türk İnkilap Tarihi Enstitüsü Atatürk Yolu Dergisi s: Güz: s.333-366

TÜRK KADINININ TOPLUMSAL KONUMUNUN GELİŞİM SÜRECİ Yrd. Doç. Dr.GÜLEN ÖZDEMİR Sosyal Bilimler Metinleri 03 / 2009 Namık Kemal Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü, Tekirdağ

TARİHSEL SÜREÇ İÇERİSİNDE TÜRK KADINI VE ATATÜRK

VAHAP SAĞ Cumhuriyet Üniversitesi, Fen-Edebiyat Fakültesi, Sosyoloji Bölümü

C.Ü. İktisadi ve İdari Bilimler Dergisi, Cilt 2, Sayı 1

ATATURK’S IMPACT ON THE STATUS OF TURKISH WOMEN

AYŞE KUDAT http://www.socialassessment.com/documents/KudatWorks/1991/

ATATURK'S REFORMS EMPOWERED TURKISH WOMEN AND SET EXAMPLE FOR THE DEVELOPING WORLD-A look at the remarkable transformation of a Nation-

BY ATATURK SOCIETY OF AMERICA (ASA) www.ataturksociety.org April 20, 2013

Authors are:AYNUR ULUATAM SUMER ILKNUR BORAY – ASA Board Members

Presented at the Conference by:CEREN OLGA SAYAN

TURKISH WOMEN: A CENTURY OF CHANGE

KATHARINA KNAUS http://www.esiweb.org/pdf/esi_turkey_tpq_id_90.pdf

http://www.tbmm.gov.tr/develop/owa/milletvekillerimiz_sd.dagilim