Title: Advancing Women’s Representation and Gender Equality in Turkey
Date: December 5, 2024
Speaker: Ülker Şener (Gender Equality Monitoring Association - CEİD)
Moderator: Rahime Süleymanoğlu-Kürüm, Jean Monnet Chair, BAU
The Women’s Rights Day Event, organized collaboratively by Bahçeşehir University’s Department of Political Science and International Relations, the Feminist Epistemic Justice Jean Monnet Chair, and the Gender Equality Monitoring Association (CEİD), marked the 90th anniversary of Turkish women gaining the right to vote and run for office in 1934. The event commemorated this milestone while addressing the contemporary challenges and opportunities for gender equality in Turkey. A diverse audience of academics, policymakers, civil society representatives, and students attended the seminar, fostering a lively and inclusive dialogue on women’s rights and political representation. A total of 28 participants attended the seminar.
About the Speaker:
Ülker Şener has been actively involved in gender equality monitoring activities conducted by the Gender Equality Monitoring Association (CEİD) since 2017. Her primary areas of interest include gender-sensitive data, the collection, analysis, and interpretation of data, as well as local governance and social policy applications. Between 2009 and 2015, she worked as a researcher and analyst at the Economic Policy Research Foundation of Turkey (TEPAV), where she led the Gender Equality Report Card for 81 Provinces project. Prior to this, during the 2004-2009 period, she participated in initiatives at the Tuzluçayır 75th Anniversary Community Center, focusing on programs targeting women in impoverished neighborhoods. Ülker Şener holds a master’s degree from Ankara University’s Faculty of Political Science, Department of Labor Economics and Industrial Relations, and a bachelor’s degree from Middle East Technical University’s Faculty of Economic and Administrative Sciences, Department of Business Administration.
Presentation Overview:
Ülker Şener, a prominent gender equality advocate and project director at CEİD, delivered a thought-provoking presentation that highlighted both the historical significance of Women’s Rights Day and the current state of women’s representation in Turkey. She began her talk by revisiting the landmark decision in 1934, when Turkish women were granted suffrage, placing Turkey ahead of many European nations. This decision was framed within the broader context of the Republic’s modernization efforts, which sought to redefine gender roles and foster a more egalitarian society.
However, Şener emphasized that while these early reforms were groundbreaking, the momentum for gender equality has not been sustained. Women’s political representation in Turkey remains below the global average, with significant disparities between national and local levels. Through data, historical analysis, and policy critique, she painted a nuanced picture of progress and stagnation in Turkey’s journey toward gender equality.
Ülker Şener began her presentation by tracing the historical roots of gender advocacy in Turkey, going back to the Ottoman Empire. She highlighted the critical contributions of early feminists who championed issues such as access to education, property rights, and the abolition of polygamy. These pioneering efforts laid the groundwork for the Republic’s progressive reforms, including the introduction of suffrage and legal equality for women. However, Şener noted that while these reforms were groundbreaking, they were often implemented as top-down initiatives and failed to address deeper structural inequalities, leaving significant gaps that persist to this day.
Turning to contemporary challenges in political representation, Şener identified several systemic barriers that continue to hinder women’s participation in politics. She pointed to patriarchal norms, financial constraints, and tokenism in the selection of candidates as key obstacles. Despite women currently holding 19.9% of parliamentary seats, she argued that this figure reflects a lack of genuine institutional commitment to gender equality. The situation at the local level is even more concerning, with women’s representation considerably lower. Şener attributed this disparity to cultural and structural factors, such as the dominance of male-centric industries like construction in local politics, which shape local political agendas and marginalize women.
The presentation also underscored the importance of intersectionality in addressing the complexities of inequality. Şener emphasized that women from marginalized groups, including those in rural areas, minority communities, or lower socio-economic positions, face compounded disadvantages. She stressed that addressing these overlapping inequities is crucial to ensuring that all women, regardless of their background, have the opportunity to participate fully in political and social life.
A significant portion of Şener’s talk focused on the necessity of gender-sensitive policymaking and participatory democracy. She argued that institutions must go beyond symbolic gestures to truly embed gender equality into their processes. This requires the integration of gender perspectives at every stage of policy design, implementation, and evaluation. Şener highlighted examples of successful initiatives, including local governments that have adopted gender budgeting practices, as models that could be scaled up and replicated in other contexts.
Practical Recommendations
To advance gender equality and enhance women’s political representation in Turkey, Şener proposed several actionable strategies. She emphasized the need to institutionalize gender equality by strengthening laws and quotas and ensuring their consistent enforcement through robust accountability mechanisms. Additionally, she advocated for the establishment of capacity-building programs to provide women with the skills and resources necessary to succeed in political life.
Şener also highlighted the critical role of civil society, calling for enhanced support for NGOs and grassroots organizations to advocate for and monitor gender-sensitive policies effectively. Lastly, she stressed the importance of designing intersectional policies that address multiple dimensions of inequality, recognizing the diverse experiences of women across race, class, and geographic divides. Through these comprehensive measures, she argued, it would be possible to create a more inclusive and equitable society.
The event served as a critical reflection on the interplay between historical legacies and contemporary challenges in advancing gender equality in Turkey. By addressing the structural and cultural barriers to women’s representation, Şener underscored the importance of feminist epistemic justice in reshaping political systems and knowledge production. Her emphasis on participatory democracy and inclusive policymaking aligned with the broader mission of feminist scholarship to challenge androcentric norms and amplify marginalized voices.
The event featured a dynamic Q&A session, during which attendees raised questions about the role of global gender rankings in shaping Turkey’s policies, strategies for overcoming political resistance to equality measures, and the potential for international collaboration to support local advocacy efforts. Participants expressed admiration for Şener’s ability to connect historical analysis with actionable recommendations, emphasizing the need for sustained activism and institutional reforms.
The discussions also touched on the impact of anti-gender movements globally and locally, with attendees noting the growing resistance to feminist initiatives. Şener highlighted the importance of resilience and solidarity in the face of these challenges, calling for collective action to safeguard and advance women’s rights.
The Women’s Rights Day Event provided a platform for critical dialogue on the achievements and ongoing struggles in advancing women’s political representation and gender equality in Turkey. Through her insightful presentation, Ülker Şener highlighted the gaps that remain in Turkey’s gender equality journey while offering practical solutions to address systemic barriers. The event not only commemorated a historic milestone but also served as a call to action for academics, policymakers, and activists committed to fostering a more inclusive and participatory democracy.
Click here for the seminar recording [in Turkish]
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