CEU Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2023
| Author | Inanc, Sumeyra |
|---|---|
| Title | Conservative Women And Children Books As Everyday Politics |
| Summary | This master's thesis explores the evolving relationship between conservative women in Turkey and religion, along with the transformation of traditional gender roles, focusing on their book-buying behavior for their children. The lifting of headscarf bans in universities and public institutions in 2007 sparked economic and cultural shifts among conservative women, prompting them to redefine traditional gender roles from a more egalitarian perspective and establish a rational and individualized connection with religion. As a result, these women have embraced a rationalized and individualized religious identity, advocating for gender equality, and distinguishing themselves from previous generations and lower-class women. The thesis investigates the preferences of these women regarding children's books, revealing that they tend to favor texts that avoid explicit religious terminology, prioritize values education, refrain from didactic styles, and emphasize gender equality. Conversely, they tend to avoid books that primarily focus on religious education, religious rituals and rules, didactic language, and reflect traditional gender roles. These purchasing behaviors not only reflect the changing attitudes of these women but also impact the best-selling books of publishers catering to this demographic. In this context, the thesis examines how children's books serve as a reflection of social change and act as a medium for transmitting these changes to future generations through the book purchasing behavior of mothers. The research draws on in-depth interviews conducted with mothers and publishers, as well as a survey involving 81 mothers, to provide comprehensive insights into the subject matter. Overall, this thesis sheds light on the evolving dynamics between conservative women, religion, and gender roles in Turkey, showcasing the role of children's books as an indicator of social change and a vehicle for transmitting these changes to the next generation. Key words: Religion; Gender; Children Books, |
| Supervisor | Kowalski, Alexandra and Naumescu, Vlad |
| Department | Sociology MA |
| Full text | https://www.etd.ceu.edu/2023/inanc_sumeyra.pdf |
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