The republic is meaningful with gender equality.

Dr. Gülhan Seyhun, a faculty member, stated that the Republic is entirely a women’s revolution, emphasizing Atatürk’s conscious efforts regarding women’s freedom. “The Republic is meaningful with democracy, secularism, and gender equality in rights and freedoms. Otherwise, there are regimes that call themselves republics but ignore women,” she said.

Dr. Gülhan Seyhun, a faculty member at Altınbaş University’s Common Courses Department, highlighted an example from a vote held shortly before the declaration of the Republic on April 3, 1923: “Due to the decrease in the male population from 50 thousand to 20 thousand, it was thought that women voted for the head of the family in the renewed parliamentary elections, and they were not granted the right to vote. In the same session, it was not accepted that women should also be checked to prevent syphilis. Women’s rights in both social matters and important issues like health were disregarded,” she recalled.

“Made women visible in society”

Seyhun noted that Atatürk made women visible in society, stating, “In today’s world, where the effects of a sexist approach in cases of violence against women are clearly understood, Atatürk served as a role model for society as an implementer of gender equality, challenging the entrenched sexist approaches that existed a century ago. Women gained courage, became visible in education, work, and social life, ultimately taking pride in being a member of the society they lived in.”

Describing Atatürk’s revolution as a women’s revolution, Dr. Seyhun said, “He knew that new male and female models needed to be provided to the new society. Essentially, what he wanted was a mental change. A hat law was enacted for men, but no law was made regarding women’s clothing. To accelerate the process, he especially traveled around the country with his wife Latife Hanım. During these trips, there were attempts to organize separate meetings for women and men among those who accompanied or welcomed them, but such separations were not allowed. In speeches made to the public, he offered suggestions on how women should be.”

Seyhun suggested that Atatürk conveyed the message of women standing by their husbands through the traditional marriage ceremony, asserting, “Latife Hanım’s presence beside her husband, her attire and culture served as an example for Turkish women. Modernly dressed women participated in their conversations, and women teachers, bureaucrats’ wives, and civil servants played pioneering roles in this regard.”

“In 1923, women and men watched a film together for the first time”

Seyhun cited an event from 1923 in Izmir as an example of making women visible in society: “Atatürk and Latife Hanım went to Ankara Cinema at the invitation of Cemil Bey (Filmer) and Sabahat Hanım. After Atatürk entered and sat in the box, he looked at the hall and saw that everyone was male. When he asked why there were no women, he was told that women were only allowed inside on Tuesdays. He then turned to his aide and asked for the women who had come to greet them to be allowed in immediately. The women waiting outside entered the hall to applause, and the corridors were filled with women. For the first time, men and women watched a film together.”

“Turkish women returned to their essence with the Republic”

Dr. Gülhan Seyhun evaluated that Turkish women shed their centuries-old roles and returned to their essence with the Republic. “The main force behind this change was Atatürk, who was a leader who narrated, persuaded, urged when necessary, encouraged, set an example, and guided,” said Seyhun, listing the rights granted to women by the Republic as follows:

“Women were granted equal citizenship with men, the right to vote and be elected, and the right to benefit from co-education at all levels of education. Although this situation was secured by laws, it was not easy for women to participate in social life in a society that had become accustomed to seeing women as beings that should not leave the house.”