On resillience and response beyond value change: transformation of women's movement in post-1980 Turkey
Author
Ozcurumez, S.
Cengiz, F. S.
Date
2011Source Title
Women's Studies International Forum
Print ISSN
0277-5395
Publisher
Elsevier
Volume
34
Issue
1
Pages
20 - 30
Language
English
Type
ArticleItem Usage Stats
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Abstract
This study examines the nature of, and reasons for, the transformation of the women's
movement in Turkey in the post-1980 period by focusing on the origins, rationale, organization
of two women's organizations and their interaction with political institutions. It seeks to
answer two questions: in what ways do the post-1980 women's organizations differ from those
of pre-1980 in Turkey? What factors have played a role in this transformation? In addressing
these, this study critically examines two propositions put forward in the general literature on
transformation in movements: emergence of postmaterialist values and changing political
opportunity structures. Relying on evidence from Turkey, this study proposes three alternative
factors adding nuance to these propositions in the general literature: the restrictions imposed
by the 1980 coup on social movements bearing new frames of reference by activist women, the
changing values and ideas of second wave feminism, and the limits of state-centered
modernization for the women's movement in Turkey.