YENİ KİMLİK ARAYIŞI, ESKİ CİNSEL DÜALİZM: PEYAMİ SAFA’NIN ROMANLARINDA TOPLUMSAL CİNSİYET

Öz

The transition from the Ottoman Empire to the new republic was surrounded with both social and individual traumas and a dire sense of anxiety. As observed in most societies in Turkey too these anxieties were projected symbolically unto the area of gender identity, especially to the construction of "woman". In this respect a comporison with the anxieties surrounding the construction of a "new woman" in 19th century popular British culture reflecting itself in the various images of the femme fatale is striking. In this article the writings of Peyami Safa, an early republician writer claiming to reach an "east-west" synthesis in Turkish culture, is analyzed within a comparative perspective and with special emphasis given to his idea of "new woman". This woman has to be obedient and ready to accomodate the patriarchal needs of a male dominated society; any woman who does not fit in this picture is deemed as dangerous femme fatale who should be condemned to death!