In an interview with haqqin.az, international expert and author of the book “Secrets of Femininity,” which explores the role of women in public life throughout various stages of Turkey’s history, Associate Professor at Üsküdar University Yıldız Derya Birincioğlu, discussed how to continue advancing gender parity in the current environment. Aze.Media presents a translation of this conversation.
“What we often refer to as equality actually means that gender roles can be divided. Let me remind you that a gender role is a set of social norms that determine what kinds of behaviors are considered acceptable, appropriate, or desirable for a person based on their gender identity—whether female, male, or another gender. These gender roles depend on the culture of each nation,” she said.
In some cultures, women are burdened with greater social responsibilities due to various stereotypes, which inevitably leads to gender inequality. It’s clear that shopping, for instance, cannot be purely a woman’s duty and should also be a responsibility for men.
It’s important to recognize that in many societies, prejudices like “a woman’s place is in the home, in the kitchen,” have been passed down from our ancestors and must be transformed and changed. Every woman and man can perform any task and be successful in any field, the expert believes.
In her view, equality means creating conditions in which a woman can fulfill herself in any sphere of state life. Women should be able to work in any job, express their opinions, and make decisions on any issue. In a civilized society, there should be no limitations for women on the social ladder. Women are clearly capable of being excellent leaders in business and politics and making key decisions. Therefore, mechanisms must be established to enable women to work in all areas, she asserts.
The Turkish expert notes that public opinion on gender equality is shaped by the media, which often focuses more on the role of women in the family than on issues of equality. For example, in the 1950s, Hollywood produced many melodramas. Why? Because after World War II, Americans wanted women to return from the public sphere to private life. Today, many melodramas are produced in Turkey, showing women living comfortable lives within their families. The message of these melodramas is clear: a woman’s duty is to stay home, be a good mother, and raise children. This theme runs not only through television series but also in news stories and advertisements. In commercials, we often see a superwoman who is highly successful at work and at home, where she provides excellent upbringing for her children, cooks, cleans, and takes care of the entire family.
But are there such high expectations for men? No. The expectations for men are to succeed at work, build a career, and earn a high income. It is not considered essential for him to be a great father at home, a good husband, or take good care of his children. In many of our cultures, if a man has had a stressful day at work, the family tries not to bother him at home to avoid adding to his stress. But this rule doesn’t apply to women. Women are given more and more responsibilities, and at the same time, they are expected to find a place in the public sphere if they want equality, yet when they come home after work, they cannot even refuse some of their family and household duties. This is an unfair expectation, as equality is not about aggressive bargaining but about equal distribution of responsibilities in public and family life. Women have the right to choose their work, but we cannot expect 100% dedication from all women both at work and at home. Sometimes, women may not be able to fulfill all their family obligations. The “golden standard” in this matter is shared and equal responsibilities for both men and women, she insists.
Yıldız Derya Birincioğlu has positively assessed the changes in Azerbaijani legislation aimed at expanding women’s rights. The legislation in many countries is egalitarian on the issue of gender equality, but the question remains as to how effectively these laws are implemented. Equality must, at the very least, be ensured at the level of rights and laws. There is a stereotype that women in leadership positions are emotional and sentimental, while men are not. This is a very subjective view, as there are examples like “Iron Lady” Margaret Thatcher, Tansu Çiller, and other female leaders who made very tough decisions. Another stereotype is that the rise in divorce rates is a result of women’s emancipation. The claim is that women divorce when they become educated and start working. However, it is important to note that a working woman has economic freedom. The absence of economic freedom makes a woman dependent, and marriage becomes depressing. Equality only strengthens marriage, making it more successful, as both women and men earn money together and build their lives together, she noted.
The expert also provided recommendations for reducing the gender gap in Azerbaijan.
First, ensure equal property rights for men and women. In your country, there have been reports of issues where men’s property rights prevail over women’s.
Second, increase women’s awareness of gender equality issues.
Third, educate children about gender equality, providing them with knowledge about equality that is not typically offered through regular education. A person can be a scientist, a professor, or hold a high position but lack gender education and sufficient knowledge about gender issues. Women play a significant role in this matter. They must instill a culture of gender equality in their children, the expert said.
