NEZİHE MUHIDDIN’S STRUGGLE FOR WOMEN’S POLITICAL RIGHTS: MUSTAFA KEMAL ATATÜRK’S STANCE AND THE OBSTACLES TO CHANGE

Abstract

The interest of Turkish women in political affairs became prominent in the late 19th century. However, their engagements focused mainly on seeking broader participation in the economic and social life of the Ottoman Empire rather than political rights. The movement was led by the prominent and educated women of the Ottoman Empire by writing articles and forming associations. Given that the traditional and patriarchal structure of Ottoman society was the main obstacle to women’s political rights, there were no significant changes in women’s status in the empire. The situation changed with the establishment of the Republic of Türkiye. Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the republic’s founder, recognized the importance of women’s rights and their involvement in the socio-economic cum political life of the state for the success of his reforms. With the patriarchal nature of the social structure in mind, Atatürk first sought to revolutionize the state’s social set-up to make it receptive to impending women’s political rights. Nezihe Muhiddin believed that women should fight directly for their political rights without waiting for social changes, bringing her into a confrontation with the ruling elites. Although she was active in the struggle initially, she was eventually pushed to the margins.