Essay by Elif Deniz Keçici
Is it difficult to be a woman? Most people would answer this question with a big "Yes". But unfortunately it is much more difficult to be a woman in an underdeveloped country such as Turkey.
Similar to other cases, the problem starts in family. While little boys are tolerated by their parents when they make a mistake so that they don't grow up to be "cowards", little girls usually have it much harder. They are usually the ones to get yelled at for misbehaving while boys are usually free to do whatever they like, however they wish. Of course, this is not the only problem. Related to the prior issue, girls are more likely to receive dolls, kitchen tools, dresses as presents so that they develop a "maternal instinct", boys mostly get cars, mechanical tools, electrical devices so that they grow up to be "the big boss of the house". Being a man is constantly praised with phrases like "Men don't cry", "Be a man" even though being a woman is belittled in phrases such as "Don't hit like a girl" "Don't laugh like a girl". In addition, there is a darker side to this problem; while growing up, boys get taught that it is their birth given right to oppress the opposite gender. "It is okay to shout at girls, no problem if you pull her hair, you can push her aside using your physical advantage, and of course you can touch her without her permission." This is the simple beginning to a very corrupted mindset that leads to femicides.
Speaking of which, femicide is a very disturbing matter even to imagine let alone discuss, but it is a harsh reality and a dangerous situation that countless women in Turkey face. According to a study conducted by OECD in 2019, Turkey is one of the countries that have the highest rate of violence against women. It has been an ongoing issue for women to hesitate to go out at nighttime. Men, as usual, are allowed to enjoy themselves at any time of the day while women are expected to stay at home. Even if they are allowed to go out, they must be home before it gets dark and dangerous; before the streets are filled with murderers who are not noticed, rapists who continue to run free even after they face trial... The worst part is that these criminals can be and usually are spouses of the victims.
Another topic that is not to be forgotten is child marriage. It is especially common for little girls to get married at a young age as they are not deemed important enough to be given education. In the Eastern and Southeastern parts of Turkey, girls are seen as objects that can be bought and sold. Not only do they get objectified, they are often looked down at when they express their strength and individuality. In society, women are seen as weak creatures that cannot stand on their own feet who unquestionably need men in their lives in order to survive. The reason these problems occur in the first place is the lack of proper education. If men were taught that both genders are equal and women have the same rights as them, they would not act as if they are superior to women. And if women knew their rights as human beings, they would not accept the unacceptable conditions that they are forced to live under.