The Situation of Women in Turkey in the Framework of its Process of Accession to the EU

In this article, the author deals with the question of "the situation and the role of women" in Turkey's process of modernisation, the debate on which has intensified over the past few years, principally for two reasons: the rise of Islamic fundamentalism and Turkey's possible accession to the EU. Beginning with a critical analysis of the Western approach to this issue, the author reviews the situation of Turkish women in the areas of education, employment, gender-based violence and political participation. In order to progress in gender equality, she appeals to collaboration and solidarity between Turkish and European women's organisations. In this sense, the EU's process of enlargement offers a positive, appropriate framework for this.