Activism and Women's NGOs in Turkey

Civil society is often seen as male, structured in a way that excludes women from public and political life. Much feminist scholarship sees civil society and feminism as incompatible a result. But scholars and activists are currently trying to update this view by looking at womens positions in civil society and womens activism. This book contributes to this new research, arguing that civil society is a contested terrain where women can negotiate and successfully challenge dominant discourses in society. The book is based on interviews with women activists from ten womens organizations in Turkey. Foregrounding the voices of women, the book answers the question "How do womens NGOs contribute to civil society in the Middle East?. At a time when civil society is being promoted and institutionalised in Turkey, particularly by the EU, this book demonstrates that womens organisations can help achieve womens emancipation, even if there are significant differences in their approaches and ideas.