Perceptions of Women in the Balance of Power in Turkey

The social structure in Turkey is predominantly patriarchal, and this has a major influence on the perception of women. Because of its historical roots and the broad authority that Islam grants men, the preponderant male dominance in the social order in Turkey rests on rather firm foundations. Victimhood is inevitable in a social order where women are deemed as weak compared to men and where their roles and relationships are defined in a way that will perpetuate this weakness. However, it becomes clear that sometimes steps that seem progressive recoil back on women over time or that they are ineffective. The reason for this is that all actions take place in the general melting pot of perceptions, where they are shaped to become acceptable to the hegemonic views. It is vital that perceptions made within a balance-of-power framework where women are disadvantaged be identified and exposed. Furthermore, the struggle to create a Turkey where women and men have equal status should also include the effort to be change the perceptions of women that we have discussed here.

Seher Cesur Kılıçaslan & Toprak Işık

International Journal of Arts and Sciences Conference. Harvard University, Boston, USA, 26th–30th May 2014