The Impact of Religiosity on Gender Inequality and Patriarchal Attitudes in Turkish Society

• In Event: 598 - Section on Asia and Asian America Roundtable Session.
  In Refereed Roundtable: Table 04. Sexualities and Gender

Abstract

What is the correlation between individuals’ levels of religiosity and gender disparities in education, participation in the workforce, and economic status? In what ways has religiosity an effect on patriarchal attitudes? This paper will examine women’s educational, occupational, and economic status in Turkish society, and how it differs with increasing levels of religious attitudes. In addition, it will analyze whether patriarchal ideologies increase when the level of religiosity of individuals increase. Conceptualizing gender and religion, I argue that gender and religion play intersectional roles in creating gender hierarchies in predominantly Islamic societies. In addition, I discuss the ways in which patriarchal traditions restrict women’s civil liberties and control their bodies as part of the divine revelation to God and the Prophet. Lastly, I examine the current educational, economic, and social status of women in Turkey. I argue that gender inequality remains a prominent problem, disadvantaging women economically, politically, and socially.
The data will be derived from a 2011 World Values survey that measures changing values’, beliefs’, and attitudes’ impact on social, economic, and political life in Turkish society. I posit that high level of religiosity lead to greater gender inequalities in education, participation in the labor force, and economic status. I also argue that individuals with high level of religiosity report greater patriarchal attitudes in regards to educational attainment, economic, and labor force participation that disadvantage Turkish women.

Author

• Ceylan Engin, Texas A&M University