Women in Tanzimat reform era drama

The deterioration in the fields of military, economy, and science that started from the mid-XVI century makes itself apparent in the XIX century. The Ottoman modernization movement starts as the government falls behind the West and accepts this fact. In the Tanzimat reform era (1839-1904), bureaucrats and intellectuals try to find a solution for the negative position that the government falls within. The steps taken during the modernization process not only includes political and economical process but also necessitates social change. In accordance with this purpose, intellectuals scrutinize these problems through genres that are new to Turkish literature and propose suggestions. One of these new genres is drama. Dramatists question the wrongs/deficiencies that exist or projected to change in Ottoman society not only on the basis of men but also on women. Intellectuals who are aware of the social change, esteem "women" as one of the main elements that would be a source for the change and a savior that would raise and educate the new generation properly. They believe that the change and progress in social life would be woman-centered with the modernization. The dramatists discuss the underdevelopment of society in terms of being deprived of certain rights and not possessing sufficient equipment for women. They present solutions that are reformative and would raise awareness which position the place of women in social life for the government to progress and sustain its existence. Keywords: Tanzimat, change, modernization, drama, woman