Between Authenticity and Inspiration: Transnational Dynamics in Ottoman/Turkish Feminism

This article examines the perceptions of the international women’s movement within Ottoman/Turkish feminist circles in order to understand how they positioned themselves, their approaches to common issues, and their comparisons with other women’s movements of the time. It also seeks to develop a transnational perspective on Ottoman/Turkish feminism by exploring its international presence and representation in the early twentieth century. Throughout the article, three primary dynamics are examined to underscore the main aspects of transnationalism in the Ottoman/Turkish women’s movement. First, there was a deliberate emphasis on highlighting differences rather than commonalities with Western women and feminist movements. Second, there was a clear separation between the pursuit of social and political rights, reflecting the belief among Muslim/Turkish women that they lacked the necessary experience in the social and economic spheres to engage in political life. Finally, concerns about radical social movements and their potential impact on the territorial integrity of the Ottoman Empire (and later the repressive one-party regime of the Republic of Turkey) forced Ottoman/Turkish women to distance themselves from radicalism. By analyzing these three dynamics, this article uncovers the intricate complexities and strategic choices that Ottoman/ Turkish women made as they navigated the transnational dimensions of their movement, and argues that the Ottoman/Turkish women’s movement was from the outset an «international affair» within the specific context of Ottoman/Turkish modernization.