Social status of women in Turkey in the 1950s

With the modernity, novel opportunities had arisen for women to participate in social life. In this period, they had enlargen the domain of their rights and status, both by their own efforts and by the support coming from the society. As a result of the reforms that had been undertaken after the proclamation of the Republic of Turkey, by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, new steps were achieved for women to have a voice in a variety of areas. During the rule of Democrat Party, one of the most prominent political figures of the Early- Republican era, women have maintained their rights and status and endeavored for the further. This study is comprised of three chapters under the title of social status of women in between the years 1950 1960. In the first chapter, under the main title of socio-cultural conditions of women, the prominent individual figures and institutions, which had been representing women in the fields of education, sports, arts and in woman associations; together with the way in which they benefitted from the healthcare system and their perceptions of dressing styles have been discussed. In the second chapter, under the title of women in political life, representation rates in parliament, attitudes toward women in the Democrat Party, women deputies and their role in the parliament; women in the eyes of opposition parties and women that are in opposition; the position and effects of The Turkish Women Union in the political arena and the studies on the policies regarding women have been scrutinized under different sub-topics. In the third chapter, employment of women in both public and private sectors have been analyzed. Keywords: Democrat Party, woman, education, health, law, clothing, politics