From Molar to Molecular Politics in Women’s Islamic Movements in Turkey: ‘Women who Get Together’ to Defend the Rights of ‘Others’ (2003–2013)

Abstract

A significant evolution in women’s Islamic movements (WIMs) became apparent after the process of the ‘normalisation of the headscarf’ in Turkey. With the lifting of the headscarf ban, starting from 2008, in universities, public offices and finally in parliament, WIMs became more independent of the ‘protection’ of the religious and conservative communities and have regained time and energy to deal with other women’s and human rights issues. The issues have become diversified, and their discourses and forms of contention against the Justice and Development Party (Adalet ve Kalkınma Partisi, AKP) governments have varied and become disruptive. This article analyses selected blogs and activities of Women who Get Together (Buluşan Kadınlar) platform, a group of self-identified religious women, and attempts at making sense of its emergence, development and demobilisation. In its active years (2003–2013), the platform defended the rights of ‘others’ and developed a discourse of co-existence within a double framework of religion and equal citizenship. The article aims to contribute to the literature on WIMs by highlighting their contributions to others’ rights beyond their oft-studied perspectives and activities on women’s issues. It shows the limitations of building a unified/molar women’s Islamic movement by revealing singular/molecular fragmentations within WIMs. The article is built on an analysis of blog posts, news media, participant observation, and personal interviews conducted between 2011 and 2016 in Turkey.