Turkey's women's movement, a century in the making

This week marks 92 years since the establishment of Turkey's first women's organization, which is nearly as old as the Republic of Turkey itself. The organization was initially founded as a political party; in fact, the newly-founded Turkey's first party amazingly catered specifically to women's rights. Kad?nlar Halk F?rkas?, or the People's Party of Women, was founded to institute the political and social rights of women.

There was a single name behind such a bold action for a country just transitioning into democracy: Nezihe Muhiddin, an Ottoman women's rights activist, journalist and writer. The party, unfortunately, was a nonstarter from the moment of its initiation. It was not recognized officially due to the 1909 election law forbidding women from participation in politics.

Muhiddin soon founded Türk Kad?nlar Birli?i (the Turkish Women's Association), continuing to advocate political equality and inclusion for women, remaining the chair until 1927. The association nominated Muhiddin, along with famous novelist and women's rights advocate Halide Edip Ad?var, as members of parliament to raise awareness on women's participation in politics. It was yet another nonstarter.

"We, the Turkish women, need to assert our rightful places in social and political life. First, we need to raise awareness, then we need to educate," Muhiddin had said in a speech directed at the members of the association. "We need to show women to want more and how to reach what they want. Our goal is establishing social, economic and political equality among women and men."

Rise of the women's movement

When, in 1927, Muhiddin had made sure the association's statute included an article on "working towards women's inclusion into politics and winning...