From the women's people party to the Turkish women's union: Women's movement and its reflection in the media (1923-1935)

This study examines the events of and the achievements throughout Turkish women's rights movement between 1923 and 1935 –the most important period in the movement's history-and how these were reflected in the media. In the context of secularism, nation-state building and modernization, it focuses on the social and political rights gained by women, as well as the role attributed to women by the regime. The ex of women's rights in the world accelerated in 1789, when the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen was signed in France, and states, through constitutional amendments and international conventions, gave legal status to these rights gained as a result of centuries-long struggles. Turkish women gained these rights, for which they fought for since the Ottomans, long before many Western country thanks to the new found Republican regime and the reform movement led under the leadership of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. The "All Turks are equal in the constitution" clause included in 1924 constitution conflicted with the fact that women did not have suffrage and the right to be elected. In order to be represented in this constitution and gain the long-deserved freedom women waged a determined struggle. For this purpose they first founded The Women's People Party. Which was declined by the government. Then they founded the Turkish Women's Union and continued their struggle under this association. The media followed this process closely, at times by being critical of the movement and at times with support.