The Social Position of Women in the Understanding of the Tawhid and Sunnah Community: A Sociological field Research

Woman has been a subject of ongoing debate up to the present day, both in terms of her ontological status and her rights and responsibilities. Undoubtedly, the prevailing belief and thought systems play a decisive role in shaping this debate. In this context, the present research aims to examine the understanding of women within the Tevhid and Sunnah Community, which claims to diverge from existing belief and thought systems and to present a unique approach to the issue of women. This examination was conducted using semi-structured interviews with 13 community members, participant observation, and documentary analysis techniques. Thematic analysis was employed in the analysis of the data obtained from this investigation. The research findings indicate that the community accepts women as individuals ontologically equal to men. However, when transitioning to the social sphere, the concept of "gender equality" is rejected by emphasizing structural differences believed to be divinely ordained. Instead, the concepts of "balance and complementarity," which evoke the notion of "gender justice" by acknowledging and considering the differences between genders, are preferred. In this regard, it is accepted that women and men are created differently in terms of their structural characteristics. Based on this difference, it is stated that gender-specific rights and responsibilities are of divine origin. Furthermore, the discourse produced regarding the position of women reflects a search for balance that prioritizes adherence to religious norms but engages with modern social realities to a limited extent in practice. This understanding of women within the community is also observed in other communities that share a Salafi identity with it. It can be seen that the community, in terms of its understanding of women, can be positioned within the framework of "new Salafism".