Week #12

I knew very little about the history of Turkey and the role women played in it. After reading this article I find it very fascinating. In this reading Deniz Kandiyoti makes the argument that  the emancipation of Turkish women was the result of Turkey going from an “empire based on the multi-ethnic millet (national and religious communities) to the Anatolia-based secular nation state.” (24). According to this reading Turkey changed drastically. From abolishing women slavery, to allowing women in medical school. What I thought was the most interesting was the fact that even though Turkey didn’t ban veiling they highly promoted/encouraged women to dress more modernly. I think such drastic changes that were done during these periods is almost impossible to imagine happening today.  Another interesting topic that was discussed was women during the   the rule of constitutional monarchy in the years of 1876-1878. The writer discusses whether progress for women really was made or if the contrary was actually occurring. Kandiyoti mentions how even though women were more “emancipated” police surveillance of women’s movement increased, restrictions on their clothing persisted, as well as censoring their education and writings. (27). I think the reason why this point of topic stood out to me was because I couldn’t help but make comparisons. It reminded me of the history of when slavery in the United States was abolished and slaves were “emancipated.” Even though these people were now considered “free,” the government created various laws and restrictions where that “freedom” was not equal, such as segregation laws,voting rights, and the quality of education they received. I just find it interesting how certain circumstances of history almost repeat themselves in different parts of the world. I think the reasoning behind this inequality structure that was perpetuated in these people’s so called freedom was to sustain the social hierarchy. In the case of freed slaves, these inequalities were created in order to maintain the social hierarchy of whites above blacks. In the case for these Turkish women it was to main the social hierarchy of men above women. By creating these limitations we limit the possibilities for these people to reach their full potential. In this case I am in complete agreement with Kandiyoti to question if progress for women was achieved during this time period when women were battling so many limitations within their newfound freedom.