Women Rising with the Republic

Yaşar University celebrated the 101st Anniversary of the Republic of Turkey with enthusiasm. Prof. Dr. Huriye Toker, a faculty member of the Communication Faculty of Yaşar University and the Director of the Center for Women’s and Family Studies Application and Research, said in her speech titled “A Century of Struggle”, “One hundred years ago, Turkish women represented 0.05% of students in higher education, and in 2023, they make up 50% of the total student population and 46% of academics. The greatest share in this increase belongs to the Atatürk revolutions, which brought them into social life and opened the doors of universities. We should see today not only as the celebration of October 29 but also as a day for raising awareness and consciousness.”

The 101st anniversary celebration of the Republic took place at Selçuk Yaşar Campus. Students, academics, and staff of Yaşar University stood for a moment of silence and enthusiastically recited the National Anthem. Prof. Dr. Huriye Toker, in her speech titled “A Century of Struggle”, explained the contribution of the rights granted to women since the establishment of the Republic of Turkey to gender equality.

“It is our duty to pass on the sacred heritage to future generations”
Yaşar University Rector Prof. Dr. Levent Kandiller stated in his opening speech, “We obtained the legacy of the Republic thanks to our founding fathers during the most challenging days in history. It is our fundamental duty in the early years of the Republic’s second century to transfer this sacred heritage, along with all its achievements, to new generations and to continue working towards a brighter future. On this occasion, we commemorate all our martyrs, especially the heroes of the National Struggle, with respect and mercy. We express our infinite gratitude once again to our founder, Great Leader Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.”
Student Council President Mehmet Musab Vicir said, “Today we have come together to celebrate the 101st anniversary of our refusal to accept captivity. The Republic means that our parents went to school together, that a girl raises her hand in class. The Republic is more than a form of governance; it is a form of existence for us.”

“The secondary status of women in social life has changed”
Prof. Dr. Huriye Toker, a faculty member of the Communication Faculty and the Director of the Center for Women’s and Family Studies Application and Research, explained the innovations brought by the Republic in terms of gender equality, saying, “One hundred years ago, during a time when international agreements such as the ‘Universal Declaration of Human Rights’ or the ‘Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women’ were not even on the world agenda, the Republic declared in Turkey ensured women’s access to equal individual status and equal political participation rights. The Republic demonstrates the foresight and superior leadership abilities of Atatürk from 100 years ago. The most fundamental democratic right I want to talk about today, the granting of equal rights to women and men, is a result of the reforms between 1926-1934 and should be regarded as a reflection of the acceptance of this principle of secularism in many areas, including social life. Significant steps were taken to strengthen women’s rights with the Republic. Women’s participation in education and working life was encouraged. These steps allowed women to participate more in the social and political life of Turkish society. Thus, the secondary status of women in social life positively changed with the Republic.”

“50% of students in Turkey are women, and 46% of academics are women”
Prof. Dr. Toker, who stated that the Republic created a field for the struggle for women’s rights, said, “The Republic is irreplaceable for us for this reason alone. Women benefited more widely from rights such as participation in education and working life for which they fought. One hundred years ago, Turkish women represented only 0.05% of students in higher education, but in 2023, they make up 50% of the total student population and 46% of academics. The greatest share in this increase belongs to the Atatürk revolutions, which brought them into social life and opened the doors of universities. We can also emphasize the awareness of the concept of gender equality in Turkish society as a key factor in the success of this journey, which started with 133 female students in 1923 and exceeded 3.5 million in 2024.”

“The Republic is a philosophy that makes a woman an artist, doctor, politician”
Prof. Dr. Toker continued her words: “The Republic is a philosophy that takes a woman out of merely doing housework and childcare and makes her an artist, doctor, politician, or rector. The Republic is a system that adopts a rights-based understanding of social justice and the state. We should see today not only as the celebration of October 29 but also as a day for raising awareness and consciousness. However, alongside all this, why can only one-third of women find their place in employment? Moreover, they work for less pay and in lower status than men. To ensure that gender equality does not remain just on paper, all necessary measures must be taken for a transformation in mindset.