For years, almost every research conducted on Turkish women in science has underlined certain interesting facts.

1. In this country, the number of women placed at various positions in universities is quite high.

2. It is not only the ratio of female students and assistant lecturers that is high, but also that of women in faculty/administrative positions.

3. In various researches conducted, women in science insistently state that they have never faced gender discrimination.

4. If we closely follow this trend, we can observe a continuity since 1930. Quoting Dr. Ayhan Cavdar, the chairperson of the Turkish Academy of Sciences: “It is my pleasure to note that I have not encountered gender-based problems as a Turkish woman in science…In the US, for a woman to be a chairperson, dean or rector was really difficult during our time and I think the situation there remains pretty much the same. In this context, it can be said that Turkey is in a much better situation.”

In Turkey, women in the world of science may suffer less sexual discrimination in comparison to those in other fields. More interestingly, Turkish women in science perhaps are working in more egalitarian conditions than their Western counterparts. These look promising. But I wonder what “suffering sexual discrimination” really means. A summary of eminent researcher Ferhunde Ozbay’s quote: “In Turkey…women in science, with their utmost sincerity, begin their speech as follows, ‘Maybe it really does exist, but I have never experienced it.’” In other words, there may be sexual discrimination in Turkey but I am extremely lucky I have not experienced it myself…There are two things here: When we consider what is done to us by male ideology, it is not really important, but it exists. Besides, sexual ideology may not necessarily mean sexual harassment… They usually merge with our daily life experiences. It is not a very easy task for those who claim they are quoting from memory to say that women are subjected to second class citizen treatment.”

In Turkey, women academics set out confidently on their path in the 1930s, believing wholeheartedly that they would create a new society. They were as thankful as they were confident and hardworking, they were thankful to the regime which provided them the opportunity. This debt of gratitude passed down through generations. It grow stronger with the assumption that the republic was under threat and reached its peak with the doctrine of “internal enemies.” In the end, a typology which can be observed in both natural and social sciences emerged: “A Grateful and Woman Missioner Academic.” Not Democratic or Objective; Neither Rational nor Scientific.

Nowadays, the reason behind the reactions of the grateful women missioner academics against veiled female students is this emotional heritage. They think these girls are actually betraying what they owe a deep debt of gratitude. Imagine two students: They share pretty much the same ideas. However, one is male and the other is female and veiled. Let’s assume they are taking the same courses and both are students of the grateful woman missioner academic. The ideas of either student are not admired by the grateful woman missioner academic; however, whether consciously or unconsciously, she would unleash her anger at the female student. I know such women academics who, so to say, claim ownership of the university as if it is their duty to decide who should enter university.

Returning to the beginning: The assumption that in Turkey women do not suffer discrimination at universities should be viewed with skepticism. This is because discrimination is not necessarily a concrete obstacle. This issue should be examined carefully. On the other hand, we should also react to the discrimination women impose on each other in exactly the same manner we show sensitivity to all forms of discrimination against women.

05.27.2006