EMANCIPATION OF TURKISH WOMEN.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXIX, Issue 10760, 6 May 1911, Page 3 (Supplement)

EMANCIPATION OF TURKISH WOMEN.

If one compares the state of Turkish women, say of 20 or 30 years ago, with their position at present, one is amazed at the very striking changes that have taken place in their social and public standing, in their family relationships, in their attitude towards Western ideas of civilisation, and in their whole general trend of ethical conceptions and manner of thinking and living. In no other domain of the whole Ottoman commonwealth are these changes more evident and of a more momentous nature than in the sphere of the struggle of the lianoums for emancipation. The modern modifications in the external attire are already remarkable. Where is, for instance, the traditional dense black yashmak (veil) of former years, that used so piously to conceal from a pert passer-by the soft, melancholy gleam of a hanoum's Oriental eye and the tranquil charm of the pallid velvet- of her cheek? You might still meet it, of course, in some old-world places of Stamboul or Scutari, where the stern spirit of orthodox rigidity and intolerance still holds despotic sway. The majority of veils, however, are now so transparent that the contour and lineaments of the face, the expression of the eyes and the color of the hair can easily bo seen through them. Besides, a large number of Turkish women walk about at present in the crowded streets of Pera or the busiest thoroughfares of Galata with quite uncovered faces, never even thinking of having recourse to the compromise of an umbrella with which to hide their features. They contend, and rightly so, that the yashmak is a mere vestige of traditional custom, and that the wearing of it is 110 religious injunction, as it is never mentioned in the Koran, the sacred book of Islam.

The feredje, or the upper gaTment, lias also undergone many changes of late years. It is seldom as wide and as loose nowadays as it used' to be two or three decades ago. It now seldom liides the outlines of the figure as bashfully and as diffidently. Frequently, tooj one encounters a modern belt over the" feredje tightly encircling the waist and bringing into relief the form of chest and shoulders, to the titter disgust of the more pious section of the .Moslem world.

It is, however, the question of the unveiled face, the fact, namely, that a great many Turkish women refuse to completely cover their heads when exposing themselves to the polluting gaze of strangers, giaours or otherwise, that gives the orthodox Osmanlis the greatest- concern and apprehension. We frequently read of hanoums l>eing brought up before the martial court of Stamboul, or heing imprisoned, for this awful transgression. Fiepy. discourses against such atrocious innovations of the barbaric "West are held by devout liodjas (j>riests) almost every day in mosques or in public places. Not infrequently it transpires that here and there a stern effendi incarcerated his disobedient daughter or wife for the same offence, and that another strict adherent of the teachings of his forefathers whipped his grown-up kiz (girl) for her having shown herself with a bare head at an open window of the harem.

But all these occurrences are only natural, transient manifestations of an accentuated spirit of reaction. There can be no doubt that, in due course of time, Turkish women will be allowed to dress like their sisters of the West. Liberal-minded and cultured Ottoman statesmen like the new Minister of Public Instruction will see, if I mistake not the augury, that this should ne accomplished, and the hanoums themselves, of that one may be perfectly sure, will never acquiesce until their desires are complied with, by those m authoritv. One sees already that the Turkish "women are not less determined in their efforts and_ purposes than the'r sister suffragists of England. Not less striking is the progress the Turkish women have made of late m their social intercourse and social amusements. It is a frequent sight at present to meet a hanoum and an elfendi, who is not her husband or brother, promenading together or driving in one and the same carriage. Often you will see her entering a European shop without being accompanied by an Argus-eyed gorilla of a eunuch. At social gatherings and functions or the European section of the population, it is not now at all rare to meet Turkish ladies mixing with gentlemen, if not on terras of the Western spirit of equality, vet in a quite open, candid, and unconstrained manner. For instance, during the graduation ceremony at an American college, at which Djavid Bey, the Minister of Finance, delivered an eloquent speech on different educational problems, there were also present a number of Turkish girls and women, who sat and listened among the audience with unveiled faces and that ireedom of bearing and mien which is so characteristic of a refined and cultured hanoum. It was a surprise to many. Only a short time ago I. had the pleasure' of actually shaking hands .at a fashionable gathering with the sister of a well-known high State official. Just think of it; an infidel, a giaour, shaking hands, and m the-presence ot people, with a daughter of Islam! Who would have thought it possible only two years ago. Truly, tenipora mutautitr! In matters of education much laudable activity is being developed by the Turkish Government, as.well as by the hanoums themselves.. They- are doing all in their power to improve the very deficient state of primary education. Some patriotic Turkish ladies have combined to create in Constantinople: an institution for girls, wliere domestic economy will be. taught by European •teachers. . A school will be erected for training women in the culinary sirt and preparing tlieni for efficient service in well-to-do Moslem houses. Several clubs for Turkisli women, have sprung up in Stamboul, and in other quarters of the- metropolis, and a lady friend tells me that the "ability of a hanoum to discuss questions of the day. political, social, etc., to debate on important problems of progress and civilisation, is of an extraordinary high degree. The general knowledge of a largo_ number of Turkish ladies, their efficiency in subjects of art. music, painting, literature. etc., arc remarkable. There is nothing a cultured banuum (locs not read and finds interest in reading, troni the works of their favorite Pierre T.oti to the scientific treatises of Herbert Spencer.

Of course. in all this. ns in matters of education generally, there is still a great lark of system ami proper comprehension. lint this will he remedied in time, as the Turkish women are rapidly awakening to all their vast possibilities.