The Women’s Movement in Turkey: From Tanzimat towards European Union Membership 1

Abstract

The Turkish women’s movement has worked hard for the improvement of the situation and status of women. Especially since 1980, a lively women’s movement, under very difficult circumstances has succeeded in questioning the authoritarian regime, bringing "private" topics like violence against women to the political agenda, and finding solutions for women’s problems Particularly on a legal basis, much has been done. The European Union’s impact on this cannot be denied - as for example all of the Regular Reports deal with women’s issues and problems point out deficiencies and ask for the improvement of women’s status in Turkey. Still, there is a lot of work the Turkish state and women’s groups have to do - for women and thereby for democracy and a better future for Turkey.