Gender relationships in contemporary Turkey are experiencing dynamic change. The source of the changing relationships between the genders in Turkey is societal modernization. Some elements of Turkish society desire to develop a stronger European orientation and identity for the country, while other societal elements desire to retain Turkey's traditional Islamic heritage. For gender relationships, this clash of ideas means not only change in the character of such relationships, but also means that disharmony characterizes many relationships at both societal and familial levels.
Turkey is emerging as a modern nation in the last years of the twentieth century. Traditional Islamic values continue to be defended by major segments of the Turkish population; however, with the result that gender role clashes and generational clashes also are a characteristic of contemporary Turkish society. Turkey occupies somewhat of a middle ground between Western and Islamic cultures in the current period. An exploration of gender relationships in such a dynamic society, therefore, can provide valuable insights for current societal development.
Gender Relationships and Traditions in Turkish Society
Intrafamily conflict in contemporary Turkey frequently stems from differing perceptions of the role of women in Turkish society (Hartacsu & Oral, 1994, pp. 229-239). Males and many older females are likely to accept traditional Islamic views of the place of women in society, while younger Turkish women frequently subscribe to the more liberal, modern view of the societal role of women found in Western society.
The traditional perception of the role of the Turkish female places the woman in a subservient position to both her parents and husband (Hortascu & Karanci, 1987, pp. 57-74). A traditionally-oriented Turkish female, thus, allows her parents to select her husband, and subsequent to marriage defers to her husband in all decisions affecti...