TURKISH HAREMS

Hokitika Guardian, 5 December 1932, Page 7

TURKISH HAREMS

WOMEN EMANCIPATED

LONDON, November 16

Gone’ are the -days of the seclusion 0! the Turkish harem, says the Constantinople correspondent of “The Times. Women police, women barristers and women judges are the latest proofs of the. emancipation of the women of the East.

Where, only a few years ago, the women of the harem saw only her husband and Her relatives, she is now admitted tb’the universities on an equal footing witli men, and is eligible- for almost all professions. Such is Turkey under the rule of Mustaplia Kemil, the modern President.

Women to-day mingle freely with men m restaurants, dance halls and cinemas, and even marry according to their choice. Divorce is becoming the exception ratlieq than the rule.

• The “wives” of the lntrem ar exercising an increasingly important influence on the character and minds .of the rising generation, though the peasant conservatively refuses to discard his ancient habits, feeling that the- “new women” will not labour m the fields at his command, or walk while he rides on a donkey. Turlchb women are approaching complete emancipation.

The women of Turkey even acquired a notable victory at the expense of the West when Keriman Hanum, the Turkish “beauty queen” for 1932, was elected “Miss Universe,” When she returned to Turkey Keriman Hanum received an ovation comparable to tho triumph of a! victorious general,

The reception was - not due to national delight at the success of a Turkish girl in an international beauty competition, but to the proof that Turkey has finally discarded the shackles which prevented her from taking her place among nations.