The suicide cases in the late Ottoman society (1839-1920)

This thesis aims to examine ordinary men and women suicides in the late Ottoman society in the context of social stigma. In this context, the causes of suicide are evaluated through honor, health and economic situation in terms of gender. First, women's and men's roles and places in the family and the neighborhood life are illustrated in order to comprehend how women and men experience daily life in Ottoman society during this period. Secondly, by using Ottoman archival documents, the investigation process of the suicide cases are analyzed, then the causes of suicide are categorized as honor, economic situation and health, and also the suicidal behaviors in the documents are evaluated within the context of social stigma and gender. The main object of the study is to focus on how Ottoman patriarchal social norms affect social stigma and suicidal behavior in ordinary men and women. Key words: suicide, social stigma, gender, late Ottoman society.