Turkey’s Political Headscarves and Its History

Turkey’s history about head coverings has been a source of confusion to many but each time stories about headscarves would be searched, Turkey would always be included. Perhaps the conservative views about women in Muslim populations have something to do with it and this has been a struggle for the non-religious West that college education and jobs were made limited to those who wish to keep their head coverings.

There is more to different strokes in life and it is about time to have a more open view about this. Turkey may seem confusing with regard to this matter but the article by Roger Friedland, a New York University-Abu Dhabi visiting professor. His article, “Muslim Lite: Women, Islam and the Turkish Way” may help many of us be given a better understanding of head coverings not only in Turkey but in other places, too.

Another highly recommended novel is Nobel Prize winner Orhan Pamuk’s Kar (2002) which is now available in English as Snow 2004. It seems that it is not only the West that prohibits the use of veils in public places. It is also banned in other nations in the Middle East, Turkey among them. The story depicts the emotional struggle of women pressed to take their veils off by the secular nationalistic politicians running a university. One woman who refuses to un-don her veil commits suicide out of depression. Other women protested on her behalf where an ex-model would become their leader.

There are many interesting facts about headscarves and veils and their part in the shaping of history. Those who are still confused about why some women from nations which view head coverings as a sacred part of their faith and culture, reading the above mentioned stories. They will help give you a clearer and better view, appreciation and understanding.