Turkish Dystopia: Women's Struggle for Existence

In the context of capitalism, women’s oppression is not only a question of rights but also a question of survival.
— Sylvia Federici

As Federici posits, capitalism thrives on gender oppression. These structural inequalities are sharply visible in Turkey, where neo-liberal policies meet Islamic traditions. In this intricate society, the concept of namus —often translated as 'honour'— still plays a pivotal role in shaping women’s lives. Namus is not simply a word; it serves as a mechanism of control, dictating opinion, behaviour, attire, and the very essence of womanhood. Centuries of patriarchal oppression have eroded femininity. My mom once expressed, "I feel no different than a curtain when I'm with him." This sentiment, echoing across generations of women, resonates the silent suffering of countless women whose existence has been reduced to mere shadows in men's world. Countless women is navigating the complexities of existence in silence, and longing for recognition and agency.

Erased Femininity: The Cost of Survival in a Patriarchal Society

Surviving as a feminine being in a patriarchal society demands a constant performance of masculine energy, especially in male-centric spaces defined by traditional gender norms, like much of Turkey. I vividly recall a visit to a mechanic shop in Istanbul. The repairer gave me a puzzled look before asking, "Where’s your man?"as if my presence alone seemed to challenge the natural order of things. I wasn’t a human in need of service but a 'woman out of place.' It struck me then: in countless spaces, simply being a woman is treated like an anomaly, and my femininity is an unwelcome guest in a world constructed by men for men.

Reflecting the exclusion and immense pressure women face daily, the clash between masculine and feminine worlds permeates Turkey's labor market, where only 35 per cent of women participate. In the political sphere, women hold a mere 20 per cent of parliamentary seats. To navigate these male-dominated realms, many women adopt hyper-masculine traits, often becoming indistinguishable from their male colleagues to earn respect. Femininity, it seems, isn’t merely undervalued; it is systematically erased. The tragic rise in femicide —over 438 women murdered by men in 2023— reflects the violent consequences of a society that systematically erases femininity and enforces control through various societal codes.

Women who defy conventional norms —whether single women, non-traditional mothers, career-oriented women, lesbians, trans women, or those with liberated sexual traits— are also deemed inappropriate. Society imposes numerous restrictions on how women are expected to exist, and shapes their identities to fit patriarchal expectations. In the corporate world, women in leadership roles are often viewed with skepticism, as if their success is an anomaly. Only 19 percent of senior management positions in Turkey are held by women, and those who reach such heights often face suspicion, as if there is 'something wrong' with them.

This picture reveals the true story of women in Turkey, who are oppressed to hide their true selves, shamed of their very existence, and forced into a narrow definition of womanhood to survive in a society that refuses to accommodate their essence. As Simone de Beauvoir famously stated, "One is not born, but rather becomes, a woman," encapsulating how societal pressures construct a restrictive femininity. In this landscape, the erasure of femininity becomes the cost of survival, and it’s a burden borne by millions of women striving to reclaim their voices in a world that continually seeks to silence them.

The World Defined by Namus

Feminine women are often perceived as out of place when they express their femininity outside private spaces, where society views their namus as the responsibility of their fathers first, then their husbands. The concept of namus in the Turkish context goes far beyond its basic translation of 'honour.' It is deeply ingrained in the culture, with complex and multifaceted connotations that are heavily tied to gender roles, social expectations, and family reputation. Namus primarily revolves around female sexuality and chastity, and it serves as a key indicator of a family's moral standing. It embodies the collective honour of a family, which is often seen as being upheld through the conduct, modesty, and purity of 'their' women.

For woman, namus is often linked to virginity before marriage, sexual fidelity after marriage, and adherence to traditional gender roles. Women who are perceived to transgress these boundaries —by engaging in premarital sex, extramarital affairs, or just by dressing or behaving 'immodestly'— are often considered to have tarnished not just their own namus but that of their fathers and husbands.

Namus extends its reach to women's friendships as well, frequently forbidding any close relationships with men. While younger, more secular generations claim to reject these constraints, they often find themselves trapped by the same jealousy, control, and limitations. After marriage, many women see their connections with male friends fade. I know a well-educated, secular woman who holds a managerial position in a global corporation, but she gave up Tango —a dance she loved and a community she had been part of for several years— because her fiancé made it a condition for their marriage.

For man, on the other hand, namus traditionally involves the role of the protector of women in their family. Men are seen as responsible for safeguarding the namus of the women in their lives. This responsibility can manifest in controlling behaviour, where men feel obliged to monitor and regulate women's actions to maintain the family's reputation. Violations of namus by female family members are often seen as direct affronts to the male relatives' honour, leading to extreme consequences in some cases, such as ostracisation or even 'namus killings'. It is often claimed that younger generations are challenging the concept of namus, and that urban culture is shifting. But let me tell you, even in secular circles, men raise their glasses in the name of 'honour,' while 'their' women remain silenced, too ashamed to voice their suffering. Instead, they become victims of mental health manifestations while trying to exist in this other shade of patriarchy.

The pressure to maintain namus restricts women’s autonomy, from their choice of clothing to education, from work to lifestyle to whom they marry, or from how they move in public spaces to how they are perceived by the wider community. The concept of namus plays a significant role in justifying patriarchal control over women and reinforcing traditional gender roles. Namus, in short, is patriarchy's one of the strongest mechanism for social regulation and population control.

Awakening the Wild: Reclaiming Feminine Power in a Masculine World

In a world saturated with masculine energy, femininity stands like a fragile flower in a storm. Luce Irigaray, in her groundbreaking works Speculum of the Other Woman (1974) and This Sex Which Is Not One (1977), unveils the tragic separation of women from their true selves and bodies, forged by a relentless male-dominated society.

This alienation has been reinforced through violence, oppression, wars, laws, myths, and religions written by men. Women who resisted male domination were burned in front of crowds under the pretense of being witches. From the moment children took their first breath, they were left in a world created by men; rather than seeking their inner potential, they prioritised survival and gradually assimilated. Men then erased all traces of written history, silencing the voices of women. Who truly believes that women throughout history did not create poetry, art, or music? Today, we are discussing the history of oppressed womanhood, written solely by men.

Even though men boast about their physical strength, women still carry within themselves a deep power—an intuition, foresight, and intelligence that has been suppressed for generations. As Clarissa Pinkola Estés expressed in Women Who Run with the Wolves (1989):

Within every woman, there is a wild and natural creature, a powerful force, filled with good instincts, passionate creativity, and ageless knowing. Her name is Wild Woman, but she is an endangered species.

Today, as the descendants of these silenced ancestors, we live with a longing, searching for the wild essence we have lost in this world designed to weaken women's power.

A Call to Action!

The narrative of survival as a woman in a patriarchal society is not solely about enduring the daily struggles imposed by external forces; it is also about reclaiming the lost connection to our deepest strengths. The oppressive weight of namus and societal expectations has systematically erased the essence of femininity, forcing women into restrictive roles to survive. Yet, as history has shown, the feminine spirit possesses a profound power, rooted in intuition, creativity, and the sense of community. By awakening this innate strength, we can transform our societal narrative. It is imperative that we foster open dialogue, empower one another, and honour the complexities of womanhood in all its forms. Together, we can create a society where women are not only seen but celebrated for their true essence, reclaiming their rightful place as dynamic, powerful agents of life and changes.