Gender of Souls

"According to our men, a woman stays at home, does her job, takes care of her strength, and does not go anywhere... There is no equality between men and women among Alevis. They are so-called... Most [women] go to djemah by asking permission from their husbands." "I feel very resentful of those people, I get dark about those people... They say 'That girl, that boy' about property; they say 'The girl goes hand in hand, she takes the property and takes it away.' They see the girl as a 'hand'." "My father used to say, 'As long as my daughter doesn't go out, she shouldn't be Sunni, even if she is the worst in my village,' and that's exactly what he said." Alevism has gained a certain place in the minds over time with its emphasis on the equality of men and women, but it is unknown how much this claim of equality has been carried into real life... Nimet Okan pursues this problem and listens to the women of the community, identifying the discriminations hidden in daily life one by one, and identifying the so-called It brings to light the truth of a remaining claim to equality. We learn the stories of women who were not enrolled in school, not sent to the doctor, and whose inheritance rights were often usurped. Gender of Souls takes us through the traditions of Alevism and explores a special branch of it, the Ansabacili community, which takes its name from a woman. This community, whose history dates back to the Ottoman period, is known for its emphasis on gender equality, starting from its name, and is proud of its postal "sisters". Nimet Okan, on the other hand, pays attention to the rebellion behind the visible curtain of pride, the rebellion of Alevi women. While doing this, he does not neglect to mention the Alevi-Sunni distinction that finds its counterpart in the state, the religious-social-economic hierarchy within the Alevis, and the sharpening class difference in big cities. Gender of Souls, to "discover" the facts without falling into slogans and clichés...
(From the Promotional Bulletin)



Number of Pages: 256

Year of Printing: 2016


Language: Turkish
Publisher: Iletisim Publishing

Number of Pages: 256

First Print Year: 2016

Language Turkish