Formation of non-governmental women organization in the transition between Ottoman empire and Turkish republic: Non-governmental women organizations in Aydin and their fields of activity

In this study, initially appearence and transformation of the notion of civil society throughout the history will be studied. While discussing the notion of civil society, considering functionalities and specialities of civil society elements in respect to Turkish history and social realities instead of meaning of the notion in Western and Turkish senses will direct the study. Role of women in civil society and transformation of the theories of civil society which can be understood through the difference between private and public spheres will also discussed. Social status of women throughout the history, their parts in the process of modernization, positions of women participated non-governmental organizations during the Ottoman and Republican periods will be tried to be clarified. Finally statutes of women participated non-governmental organizations in Aydın will be analysed. Within the province of Aydın statutes of 12 civil society organization have been reviewed and articles of their statutes evaluated. Though objects of these civil societies are touching the problems of the women, it is not possible to find activities that overlap these objects. None of their activities aim to defend gender equality and raise their awareness. KEYWORDS: Civil Society, Women, Feminism, Aydın