The context of civil society: Analyzing the Muslim women's participation in the institutionalization process in Turkey

The aim of this thesis is to examine the motivations of Muslim women who established institutions with the definitions of association and foundation in the 1970s in the context of their feelings and beliefs. Many institutions currently defined as civil society organizations have connections with these institutions established by Muslim women in the 1970s. In my study, I argue that both the institutions defined as civil society organizations and those established as associations and foundations in the past are open to different interpretations. It is seen that when the meaning that women attribute to their activities and the institutions they establish is analyzed. When the traces of this interpretation are followed, it is seen that there are similar motivations with the motivation of institutions in the past. The meanings attributed to institutionalization in the 70s can also be attributed to the institutions engaged in activities with the definition of civil society organizations today. Women's motivations are also related to historical experiences, political environment, and vakıf understanding in the past. This motivation enabled women to do activities towards their goals through their emotions. I used multiple data collection methods for the study through in-depth interviews, focus groups, ethnography, and participant observation. In addition, I analyzed written and visual materials, publications and web resources. Fieldwork was carried out in Istanbul. All these data, based on historical trace version and discourse analysis in the field, reveal that similar religious beliefs in Muslim women produce similar emotionality. In this context, veiling, which emerged as the embodiment of religious belief, produced a collective emotional spirit in women and gathered women around a common purpose in the institutionalization process. Due to the state's prohibitions on covering establishment of educational institutions is one of the important stages of institutionalization. Keywords: Anthropology of emotion, civil society, Muslim women, Turkey