The Status of Women in Turkey
After the decline of Ottoman Empire, a soldier named Mustafa Kemal Ataturk liberated Turkey from all foreign invaders and revived the Turkish society by abolishing the Sultanate, thus forming the Republic of Turkey in 1923. Under his rule, Turkey went through a massive reform with secularism creeping into its institutions and society. Turkish Empire went through great economic growth and modernization during his period. (SpainExchange)
Introduction
Since Turkey has been influenced by different civilizations with different cultures and traditions, the status of women in Turkey has also undergone various changes. Majority of the women in Turkey are Muslims. Though the gender roles defined by the traditional Turkish society still persists but with changes in the status of women.
There are two main periods in which this change in womens status was made. First was in 1920s when Turkey was newly established as a Republic under the rule of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. He abolished all Islamic courts and developed more secular institutions. Women during this time were given right to vote and were given more freedom and equality. The Civil Code of 1926 granted legal rights to women - the right to vote and stand in elections. More women were a part of labor force and were actively involved in politics. In 1960s the employment opportunities for women in industries began to expand and by 1991, women made 20 of the labor force in manufacturing sector. The 1926 Civil Code, however, still regarded husbandfather as the head of the family having the decision making authority in addition to providing enhanced status and respect to women. (ESI, 2008)
The second period started in 2001 with the establishment of Turkish Civil Code that granted equal rights to men and women in marriage, divorce and property. Female sexuality was regarded as individual right rather than family honor. Under this code, family courts have been established, changes in employment laws have been made and there is improved access of women to education. The new code sets 18 as a minimum marriage age for both men and women. The reforms since 2001 were the result women campaign on a much wider basis that triggered a debate at national level. The feminist movement after 1980s played a key role in acceptance of this Code by fighting on several issues of women rights. (ESI, 2008)
Also, there are differences at regional level. Urban Upper and middle class women tend to have more educations than rural women. The urban women have more administrative jobs like teaching, health care and clerical work while rural women mostly work as maids. The upper class women are into more esteemed professions like medicine, law and engineering.
Despite these two major reforms periods, problems do exist. There are still inequalities between men and women. These inequalities are in terms of access to education, employment and health. Though significant steps have been taken to eliminate discrimination at all levels but cases of women rights violation are still seen on a large scale. The women participation in labor force in Turkey is half that of in European countries. There are very few child day care facilities which make it difficult for working mothers to balance their work and family time. Boys still outnumber girls in schools. In some parts, girls are not even registered at time of birth.
Women in Traditional Turkish Society
The structure of traditional Turkish society was quite different from what is it today. This was due to the fact the Turkey for many years was ruled by Sharia during the Ottoman Empire. The roles of men and women were clearly distinguished. The husbandfather being the head of the family was responsible for all matters outside the home like business while wifemother was in charge of the family and took care of the house. The elders especially men had the say in all matters including the decision making authority.
The life of women was mostly confined to homes. The activities of women inside homes depended on their social and economic status. Rural women looked after the fields and did house chores while urban women supervised the servants, looked after the children and indulged in other activities like reading and sewing. Special occasions like weddings were the only social outlet for the women during this time. Moreover women and even were not allowed to choose their marriage partners. This matter was solely decided by the parents of the bride and bridegroom. (Metz, 1995)
Women were only allowed to work in professions that did not involve any kind of association with men like weaving and embroidery. History shows in Istanbul women also owned mills and bakeries. Medicine was another profession that women were allowed to adopt. Women clothing outside the home was subjected to strict regulations as Islam does not allows women to appear unveiled in front of men other than their husbands, fathers and close relatives. Thus women during the Seljuk period and through out the 16th, 17th and 18th century covered their heads.
However after the fall of Ottoman Empire and during the rule of Ataturk, these old traditions started disappearing as Ataturks reforms completely liberated women in terms of social equality. The veil was banned and civil marriage and divorce system was established. Women had right to vote and stand in elections. Women could inherit wealth. These bold and daring reforms by Ataturk were welcomed by many Turkish people and gained Ataturk a lot of popularity and fame. However these could not change some of the deep rooted traditions in the society as reflected in todays contemporary Turkish society. Though love marriages are common but traditional families still prefer arranged marriages. (Metz, 1995)
Legal Status of Women
The new civil code has redefined the womens role in the family. The previous code though providing equality to women still considered them as subordinate to their husbands. The new code eliminated this approach and defines men and women as equal partners in the family. Husband is no longer the head of the family and spouses have equal rights over family and property.
Conditions of Marriage
The basic condition for marriage in Turkey is full consent of the both man and woman getting married. Polygamy is strictly forbidden in Turkey. A person cannot marry unless heshe proves the termination of hisher previous marriage. The minimum age for marriage is 18 years for both men and women. Marriage is forbidden to people in close relationships like parents, children, brothers and sisters. Women have to wait for a period of three hundred days before they can remarry. This is to ensure that they are not pregnant from the previous marriage. This is however considered to be discriminatory as medical proof can be easily provided. (WWHR, 2002)
In rural areas, most of the traditional families follow a practice whereby the bridegroom pays the brides price to her father. This practice however does not have any legal status in the Turkish law. However in some cases girls are forced to marry to obtain the bride price. The girl however has the legal right to refuse. Under the law bride price does not obliged her to marry anyone. A woman can file the marriage as void if she is forced into it. (WWHR, 2002)
Decision Making Power
The old Civil Code defined husband as the head of the family. This concept however was demolished in the new Civil Code which treats both husband and wife as equal partners having the same decision making authority. Husband alone is no longer responsible for his family. A woman is free to either use her father or husbands name as her surname. There is no compulsion on her to attach husbands name with her name. (WWHR, 2002)
Under the new Civil Code, women are longer required to seek permissions from their husbands to work outside the homes and choose profession according to their own choice. Moreover they are free to travel where ever they want. The Code also provides for the equal distribution of wealth and property acquired during the marriage. All personal property acquired before marriage remains with the owner. (WWHR, 2002)
Economic Independence
Previously married women in Turkey were only allowed to work outside homes with the permission of their husbands but the new law declared everyone has the right to work so women are not obliged to take permission from their husbands in order to work and are free to choose what ever profession they like. Moreover women do not need any permission to purchase or sale property, goods and family assets. They have the full decision making powers.
In Turkey no law specifically states about discrimination of women at the time of employment or at work place. There is just general provision regarding equality at workplace. However the high presence of discriminatory attitude against women stresses the need for a specific legislation The law also names some places where woman cannot be forced to work like underwater and underground due element of risk present in such jobs and also women are not to be employed for night shifts. (WWHR, 2002)
Political Participation
The Turkish law gives women all political rights, the right vote, elect and engage in political activities. Women are free to form political parties and association according to their own will. (WWHR, 2002)
Domestic violence
A woman who is a victim of domestic violence can file a case for divorce, compensation or separation from husband. The accused is charged if there is a permanent scar on the body of a woman as a result of husbands assault or there is any use of lethal weapon or chemical substances. (WWHR, 2002)
Honor Crimes
The murder of woman suspected to be engaged in pre marital and extra marital relationships is termed as honor killing. It is widely accepted as a form of violence violating the human rights. In Turkish Code there is not specific mentioning of the honor crimes but it is specified that a woman is deserved to be killed or punished if she brings dishonor to the family. (WWHR, 2002)
Regional Differences between Statuses of Women in Turkey
There are vast differences between women living in the country side and women living in the town in terms of the degree of autonomy they have. Women living in villages of country side have more access to public areas and more free to move around within their own village. This is because most of these women work in fields which require them to move outside their homes. Secondly these women gather together to do their daily activities like getting water and washing clothes as such facilities are available at specific locations in villages and not in individual households. (NiCE, 2006)
Women in towns are more restricted in their movements as they are mostly house wives as most of the outside home activities are performed by the men. Town women have limited access interactions with other people apart from their families. However women in towns have better access to educational opportunities giving them a better chance to become economically independent. According to a study the percentage of women who have completed their primary education is more in towns that in countryside. Also women in towns have higher incomes and fewer children compared to their counterparts living in villages.
Moreover women in towns are more dependent upon their husbands as most of them are unemployed whereas women in villages less dependent on their male counterparts as majority of them are employed as field workers. (NiCE, 2006)
There are also marked differences between women living is East and North. Women in East do not even know their national language and most of them do not have a civil marriage which is why they are totally dependent on other family members and have rights to inherited property.
In North, on the other hand, women mostly work outside homes as their majority of the men in this region work away from homes. Therefore all agriculture and marketing activities are carried out by women.
Based on a study conducted majority of the women in both towns and countryside believe that men should have more decision making power as they are more wiser but access to education must be equal for both men and women. Most of the women except those in East are with civil marriages thus giving them the legal inheritance rights. (NiCE, 2006)
Current Status of Turkish Women
During the Ottoman Period a large number of schools and universities were established for women that produced a great number of educated women that played an active role in later years. This can be asserted from the fact that before 1923 many women magazines were published and various women associations came into being that demanded educational, work, economical and political rights for women. However at that time there was no proper structure and platform to allow women to be on the forefront. (TCF)
With the establishment of Turkish Republic under the leadership of Kemal Ataturk paved the way for many reforms designed to build a first ever secular state in a Muslim Country. These modern political and legal reforms brought a drastic change in the status of women. It recognized women as equal to men, banned polygamy and granted them equal rights in divorce and child custody. There were also granted rights to vote in elections and participate in politics in 1930. The purpose of all these reforms introduced by Ataturk was to give empowerment to women and to bring them at the public forefront by making them active in education, employment and politics. As a result the status and role of women changed as they were more educated, career oriented, economically independent and politically active. Above all, these reforms greatly influenced the social lives of women and as a result changing their whole lifestyles.
Unfortunately not all the female population took the benefit of these reforms equally. The women living in urban areas and higher social classes were most prominently affected by these reforms of women empowerment. Analyzing the present situation, almost one third of Turkish women are illiterate though the enrollment rate of both boys and girls in elementary education is equal. However looking at the brighter side, more than one third of doctors, lawyers, professors in Turkey are women. However women still face problems in various aspects of their lives due to deep rooted traditional values and male dominated society. The Turkish law states that women in Turkey have been equal for more than half a century. Reality is however different from the law. In rural areas women are still fulfilling the traditional roles of looking after the family and the house. In the professional environment women are mostly employed as teachers or doctors, thus affecting opportunities for the employment of women. Maternity and child care are two main reasons for women to adopt different professions other than teaching and medicine. Women participation in labor force is still very low. Most of the women work in agricultural field as non paid workers. The field of business and commerce is still dominated by males. Moreover traditional families still practice Islamic way of lifestyle. The situation is quite opposite for women of upper and middle classes who are more educated, liberal and independent. Most of them are top management positions and participate actively in politics. (TCF)
The number of cases of honor killing has also increased in Turley in past few years and most if these cases are reported from major cities and eastern and south eastern parts of the country. Lack of education and misinterpretation of traditional religion are the main reasons of why families indulge in such a heinous crime. (Epatko, 2008)
Conclusion
The legal reforms introduced since the formation of Republic has paved way for equal rights of women and their dominance in all public spheres. In addition the womens movements is has played a significant role in bringing women issues at the political and social forefront. Due to these movements issues such as discrimination at workplace, domestic violence and inadequate representations are now being raised by Turkish women.
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