Women and constitution-making in Turkey: from Ottoman modernism to a constitutionalism of women's platform

Abstract

Explores the history of women’s participation in constitution-making in Turkey, and outlines the strategies women have adopted to have their aspirations for constitutional equality heard. The chapter describes the long and fluctuating history of Turkish women’s constitutional and political status, and the factors contributing to women’s constitutional mobilisation after 1980. It explains, in particular, the key role of the the Women’s Constitutional Platform, an informal, innovative, and strategic network of feminist alliance, established in 2007, presenting an unprecedented approach in women’s constitutional engagement. The chapter concludes with, among others, a reflection on issues posed by Turkey’s recent presidentialist constitutional amendments, and by growing religious conservatism, for women’s rights and women’s engagement.