The process is messy and confusing. Turkey is slowly shedding its old skin, but the more democratic governance system that is expected to replace the autocratic old one has yet to take shape. Everything is in a state of flux during this tortuous process.Amid this fluidity, some habits are proving harder to shift than others. I was reminded of that a few days ago when the Taraf newspaper, a key actor in Turkey’s transformation since its launch two years, published photos of a brainstorming session it recently organized. The aim of the meeting was to discuss how to keep the democratic initiative alive following violent street protests and the closure of the Democratic Society Party (DTP).
I follow the newspaper regularly and admire its bold editorial line. The initiative was clearly needed at this critical junction, but I was somewhat disappointed to see one lone woman and one young man among the dozen intellectuals, journalists and academics Taraf invited to take part in this discussion with former DTP leader Ahmet Türk.
Don’t get me wrong: The participants were all highly respected individuals who have an important role to play, and I read their views with great interest. But I found it surprising that even in the most progressive circles, women still don’t seem to be fully part of the picture.
The lack of female representation was not deliberate, I’m sure. In this country, men are so used to talking to other men that the absence of women in such a forum does not strike them as odd. But to me, the usual lineup of middle-aged commentators and analysts struck a false note at a time when Turkey is debating how to improve its governance system and make it more democratic and more inclusive.
While they were bravely pushing the envelope on the political front, the organizers at Taraf were unwittingly maintaining a social status quo, which also badly needs to be challenged if this society is to become more open and less elitist.
There are plenty of female experts who can contribute to the discussion. More women reached positions of power within the now defunct DTP, as members of the executive, members of parliament or mayors, than in any other political party in Turkey, for instance. Turkish universities also have respected female political scientists and sociologists who also have plenty to offer.
Beyond intellectual debates on the future of Turkey’s democracy, civilians also need to address practical aspects of change. Women, often more in touch with the nitty-gritty of daily life, can look at issues from different angles.
At a recent conference on women’s issues organized by the Arı movement, Nebahat Akkoç, a pioneer of women’s rights activism in the Southeast as the founder of the KaMer Association, pointed out, for instance, that the limits imposed on the use of the Kurdish language in public life had affected women far more than men.
While most Kurdish men speak Turkish, up to 38 percent of Kurdish women, particularly members of the older generation, speak only Kurdish. They cannot interact with officialdom, have limited access to health services and remain largely dependent on their menfolk. “My job is to show they can speak,” said Akkoç, who promotes female entrepreneurship.
The coming months will most probably see many more meetings and civilian initiatives to pave the way for Turkey’s democratic transition. Let’s hope women and young people are included in greater number. Once the political fog starts to dissipate, a clearer picture will emerge only if the narrow lens that has been used in the past is replaced by a wide angle that can fit all members of society into the same frame.
