What was the role of women in Ottoman society, and how did this change over time?

Women in the Ottoman Empire played various roles depending on their social status, religion, and geographical location. Generally, Ottoman society was patriarchal, and women were expected to be subordinate to men. However, the roles of women in Ottoman society changed over time, especially during the Tanzimat period of the 19th century.

Before the Tanzimat reforms, women's education was limited to the study of the Quran and the development of skills such as sewing, cooking, and childcare. Wealthy women had access to more education, but they were still expected to marry and manage households. The reform era brought significant changes, including the opening of schools for girls and the establishment of women's magazines and newspapers. This led to increased literacy rates among women, and more women began to participate in public life.

Despite these changes, women still faced significant challenges, including discrimination in the workplace and limited political representation. However, some women, such as Halide Edip Adıvar and Fatma Aliye Topuz, played significant roles in Ottoman intellectual and political life. In the early 20th century, Ottoman women began to participate in the suffrage movement, and after the establishment of the Republic of Turkey in 1923, women were granted the right to vote and stand for election.