Güvenlik Stratejileri Dergisi (Dec 2022)
The Status of Woman in the Turkish Army: An Evaluation from a Historical Perspective
Abstract
The 19th century has been a period of significant and irreversible changes in the world. The world order that evolved particularly due to the Industrial Revolution has influenced women’s participation in business life together with men. In the liberalized world, women’s rights and freedoms have been brought forward more and more. This interest has led women to enter working life professionally and to have a greater say in social life. Differences such as societies’ traditional understandings, political realities, life philosophies, and religious rules have influenced the process for women to be employed in the armies of the said societies. The people-oriented changes and transformations of the 19th and 20th centuries have influenced Turkish society just like the other societies of the world. Turkish modernization initiated by Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk envisaged the employment of women in every field. This vision paved the way for the social, economic, and social rights presented to women. The process initiated by Atatürk had an impact on the inclusion of women in the Turkish army after the Second World War. This change has been affected by the actions and activities aimed at social welfare and development such as the increase in the standard of living, transformation of social perspectives, and improvement in the level of education. This study evaluates the status of women in the Turkish Army from a historical perspective within the scope of archival documents and research works from the Ministry of National Defense Archives and Military History Department (ATASE) Archive. It also reveals the issue of women’s employment in the Turkish Army and the first female officers. Thus, the study concludes that it is important for women to take part in the army during the process of social change and transformation regardless of gender differences. In addition, it draws the fact that Turkish women who served in the army voluntarily at the beginning have begun to take part in the military platforms professionally as a result of changing political, societal, economic and technological developments.
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