Shamanism and women in Turks with mythological origins

In this work, the status of woman in Central Asian Turkish Societies are aimed to be analyzed. As a subject, the status of woman in Central Asian Turk Societies is not treated in terms of history of religions, neither in the context of belief nor in social life. Pre-islamic Turkish Society is mentioned as Old Turks, and they are approached in cultural and economical aspects as from their primary developement. Shamanism, which is Turks' first belief system, and the change of woman concept in Turkish Mythology are examined. The research has established that woman and nature was sacralized in the process of the developement of the society, and they both were given the creator and producer roles. Besides, shamans who protected people, communicated particular beings through prayer, found remedy to social matters and cured illnesses in individuals were actually female shamans. It is also mentioned that in historical process Turkish culture gradually became masculine, the significance of female shamans and women diety decreased, yet, always kept a certain level of importance. In the first chapter of the work, shamanism and shamans are explained in general. In the second part, the relations of economic process to the concept of social gender is treated. Concept of woman is evaluated in the sense of matriarchal and patriarchal systems, and, female shamans are studied in historical process. Women's status in Turkish heroic sagas and in Turks' military, political and cultural life is also included. In the last chapter, the masculine and feminine cults and dieties in Turkish Mythology are treated. Lastly, the significance and position of female shamans among shamans, and the fact that male shamans tried to look like female shamans are pointed out. Keywords: Central Asia, Shamanism, Turkish Mythology, woman, shaman, female shaman.