Challenge Coming from the Past
According to the Turkish Statistical Institute’s report; “In Turkey, the illiterate female population is 5 times more than illiterate male population,” ("Women in Statistics, 2015"). This is a very concerning statistic because these illiterate women are the current and future mothers who will be upbringing the future generations. As we know, basic education starts in the family and we can’t expect an illiterate mother and father to upbring a sensitive, educated and respectful son. Unfortunately, this son will grow older with stereotyped behavior and ideas to contribute to the most important problem that women and girls face in my country. The biggest challenge that women and girls face in Turkey is violence, which is the terrible consequence of the vicious cycle of education problem.
Everyday, women and girls are beaten up, killed and raped by men. This merciless person can be their father, husband, brother or even the son that they brought up. Every evening I watch the news on television and while the developed countries have scientific progress or environmental problems on their agenda items, unfortunately in Turkey there is an increase in the tragic stories of women and girls who asked to be protected several times from the government but ended up being beaten, raped or killed. Every morning, when I open the third page of the newspaper, I come across the stories of women who are subjected to physical violence. It is normal that I see these news everyday because according to the Human Rights Association’s 2015 data, “One in four women living in Turkey is subjected to physical violence. Three quarters of the women are exposed to violence by their husbands” ("Her 4 saatte 1 kadın").
This crucial problem is not only for adult women but it also affects the girls. In less developed eastern regions of Turkey, especially in rural areas, girls don’t go to school and they are married at a very young age like 15 or 16. According to the “Children in Turkey” project initiated by two Turkish NGO’s, the main reason why employed girls between the ages of 15-17 are not going to school is because their less educated families do not allow them to go to school and want them to marry at their early ages. Second reason is that they cannot afford the education expenses ("Children's education based on their"). There is a very significant difference on how boys and girls are brought up in Turkey. From their childhood boys are called as “lion son” and girls are taught to be naive which gives them different future roles. Since being a boy is associated with physical power, when some of the boys become men they see exercising the violence against women as acceptable in the less educated families. I believe that severe punishments imposed on such acts will eventually decrease the occurrence of these practices.
Another reason for these problems is that Turkey is a paternalistic society. According to the Hofstede's Cultural Dimensions study, Turkey scores a 66 from the Power Distance criteria which shows that our country is hierarchical and the ideal boss is a father figure, ("What about Turkey?"). In order to change the bad results of paternalism the long-term solution is empowerment of women through education. Without empowering women in the society that we live in, we can’t go a step forward in the field of human rights and inequality towards women.
Although the challenge is difficult and I painted a negative picture about Turkey, the solution is possible. The founder of the Turkish Republic, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk has granted equal rights to the Turkish women and aimed to empower girls by education back in 1930’s. According to the 2014 study of Turkish Statistical Institute, when the schooling profiles of girls are compared with boys, a significant progress is observed for girls. It is important to note that the impact of social responsibility projects emphasizing education such as "Dad, Send me to School" and "Let’s Go to School Girls!" has increased enrollment rates of girls and helped to achieve gender equality in education, ("Schooling rate of girls").
Today, we also have good examples of powerful and successful women to guide us in this journey. These women are high-level managers, politicians, academicians and researchers who represent the Turkish women in the global world. All in all, to eliminate the challenges that women and girls are facing in Turkey education regardless of gender is the key.
Works Cited
"Children's education based on their working status - the main reason for not attending school at all." Children in Turkey. Ed. Bürge Elvan Erginli. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 May 2016. <http://en.turkiyedecocuklar.org/#the-main-reason-for-not-attending-school-at-all>.
Demirel, Dinçer. "Türkiye’de Kad?na Yönelik ?iddet Olaylar?na Rakamlar?n Diliyle Bak??" ["Violence Towards Women in Turkey with Numbers"]. Antoloji.com. Antoloji.com, n.d. Web. 18 May 2016. <http://www.antoloji.com/turkiye-de-kadina-yonelik-siddet-olaylarina-rakamlarin-diliyle-bakis-siiri/>.
"Her 4 saatte 1 kad?n tecavüze u?ruyor" ["In Every 4 Hours 1 Woman is Raped"]. Milliyet.com.tr. Milliyet, 17 Feb. 2015. Web. 18 May 2016. <http://www.milliyet.com.tr/her-4-saatte-1-kadin-tecavuze-gundem-2015440/>.
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"Schooling rate of girls in comparison with the schooling rate of boys." Children in Turkey. Ed. Bürge Elvan Erginli. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 May 2016. <http://en.turkiyedecocuklar.org/#schooling-rate-of-girls-in-comparison-with-the-schooling-rate-of-boys>.
"Sekiz kad?n?n gözünden kad?nlar?n en büyük sorunu" ["The Most Important Problems of Women from 8 Women's Perspective"]. Sabah. TURKUVAZ HABERLE?ME VE YAYINCILIK, 13 Mar. 2011. Web. 18 May 2016. <http://www.sabah.com.tr/pazar/2011/03/13/sekiz_kadinin_gozunden_kadinlarin_en_buyuk_sorunu>.
"What about Turkey?" The Hofstede Center. itim international, n.d. Web. 18 May 2016. <https://geert-hofstede.com/turkey.html>.
"Women in Statistics, 2015." Turkish Statistical Institute. www.tuik.gov.tr, 7 Mar. 2016. Web. 18 May 2016. <http://www.turkstat.gov.tr/PreHaberBultenleri.do?id=21519>.