State feminism
Encyclopedia
State feminism is feminism
created or approved by the government of a state or nation. It usually specifies a particular program. The government may, at the same time, prohibit non-governmental organization
s from advocating for any other feminist program.
national government's program in the 1920s included mandatory de-hijab
icization (unveiling of women), access for women to more education and work, and some political rights for women, all as part of a national effort to emulate some Western cultural characteristics in a Muslim nation.
In the 1980s, second-wave feminism
appeared, among daughters of leading women of Turkey's Kemalist
movement
, the women being feminist within the government's definition and leadership. The state feminism they followed, according to scholar Margot Badran, covered parts of patriarchy with an appearance of Western progressivity.
In the 20th century, Turkey's government "preempted feminism".
, the former PDRY is now generally south Yemen), state feminism had little effect on patriarchy and did not have much influence beyond Aden
, a port city in the PDRY. "Women in the south ... seemed to believe their gains would never be rescinded. They behaved as feminists, if by that is meant shaping lives of their choice by accessing the new options offered them. But they did not embrace a feminist ideology or identity, as this was preempted by the state. When the socialist regime collapsed, the fragile gains of state feminism went with it." "Northern women had acquired an acute gender consciousness and developed practical feminist skills ... but they had no legitimate political space. Southern women had been able to exploit the educational and professional benefits conferred under state feminism, but they did not have the independent ideological space in which to develop a feminism of their own."
Post-unification Yemen has been analyzed by one author.
Independent women's movements may be prohibited by the government.
Feminism
Feminism is a collection of movements aimed at defining, establishing, and defending equal political, economic, and social rights and equal opportunities for women. Its concepts overlap with those of women's rights...
created or approved by the government of a state or nation. It usually specifies a particular program. The government may, at the same time, prohibit non-governmental organization
Non-governmental organization
A non-governmental organization is a legally constituted organization created by natural or legal persons that operates independently from any government. The term originated from the United Nations , and is normally used to refer to organizations that do not form part of the government and are...
s from advocating for any other feminist program.
Turkey
The TurkishTurkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
national government's program in the 1920s included mandatory de-hijab
Hijab
The word "hijab" or "'" refers to both the head covering traditionally worn by Muslim women and modest Muslim styles of dress in general....
icization (unveiling of women), access for women to more education and work, and some political rights for women, all as part of a national effort to emulate some Western cultural characteristics in a Muslim nation.
In the 1980s, second-wave feminism
Second-wave feminism
The Feminist Movement, or the Women's Liberation Movement in the United States refers to a period of feminist activity which began during the early 1960s and lasted through the early 1990s....
appeared, among daughters of leading women of Turkey's Kemalist
Kemalist ideology
Kemalist Ideology, "Kemalism" or also known as the "Six Arrows" is the principle that defines the basic characteristics of the Republic of Turkey. It was developed by the Turkish national movement and its leader Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.-Fundamentals:...
movement
Turkish National Movement
The Turkish National Movement encompasses the political and military activities of the Turkish revolutionaries which resulted in the creation and shaping of the Republic of Turkey, as a consequence of the defeat of the Ottoman Empire in World War I....
, the women being feminist within the government's definition and leadership. The state feminism they followed, according to scholar Margot Badran, covered parts of patriarchy with an appearance of Western progressivity.
In the 20th century, Turkey's government "preempted feminism".
Yemen
In the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen (PDRY) (with the subsequent unification of two Yemens into oneYemen
The Republic of Yemen , commonly known as Yemen , is a country located in the Middle East, occupying the southwestern to southern end of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the north, the Red Sea to the west, and Oman to the east....
, the former PDRY is now generally south Yemen), state feminism had little effect on patriarchy and did not have much influence beyond Aden
Aden
Aden is a seaport city in Yemen, located by the eastern approach to the Red Sea , some 170 kilometres east of Bab-el-Mandeb. Its population is approximately 800,000. Aden's ancient, natural harbour lies in the crater of an extinct volcano which now forms a peninsula, joined to the mainland by a...
, a port city in the PDRY. "Women in the south ... seemed to believe their gains would never be rescinded. They behaved as feminists, if by that is meant shaping lives of their choice by accessing the new options offered them. But they did not embrace a feminist ideology or identity, as this was preempted by the state. When the socialist regime collapsed, the fragile gains of state feminism went with it." "Northern women had acquired an acute gender consciousness and developed practical feminist skills ... but they had no legitimate political space. Southern women had been able to exploit the educational and professional benefits conferred under state feminism, but they did not have the independent ideological space in which to develop a feminism of their own."
Post-unification Yemen has been analyzed by one author.
Middle East
In the 1980s and 1990s, "feminist activists and scholars in the Middle East assailed the limits of 'state feminism' and exposed its patriarchal dimensions."China and other communist and socialist regimes
"'State feminisms' have been discredited elsewhere as well [e.g., in China] following the collapse of communist and socialist regimes."Criticism
"Many feminists ... consider the notion of a state feminism to be an oxymoron."Independent women's movements may be prohibited by the government.