'Republic and Women' themed talk at Selçuk University

Selçuk University Faculty of Nursing organized a talk on "Republic and Women" within the scope of 100 Events in the 100th Anniversary of the Republic.

Dean of the Faculty of Nursing Prof. Dr. Sema Yılmaz said that Turkish women played a major role in Turkey's gaining its independence; Halide Edip Adıvar, Nezahat Onbaşı, Şerife Bacı, Erzurumlu Kara Fatma and Gördesli Makbule were among these values. Stating that the Civil Code was a turning point in the achievement of women's rights, Yılmaz said: "With the amendment made to the Electoral Law, women were given the right to vote and be elected in general and local elections. The acquisition of these rights was realized with the value that the Republic gave to Turkish women. Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of the Republic of Turkey, expressed the importance he gave to women in society at every opportunity with the words 'Everything we see on the face of the earth is the work of women. With the reforms he realized, he gave Turkish women their rights. So much so that he ensured that women were given the right to vote and be elected before many European countries."

Prof. Dr. Sibel Küçükoğlu, Head of the Department of Nursing, also talked about the nursing process in Turkey from the War of Independence to the present day. Stating that the process started with volunteer women caring for soldiers wounded in the War of Independence, Küçükoğlu gave information about the opening of the Red Crescent Nurse School in 1925, followed by a group of graduating nurses going to Columbia University Faculty of Nursing for education, and then the opening of nursing departments offering 4-year education.

After the opening speeches, Selçuk University Atatürk's Principles and History of Turkish Revolution Department Head  Assist. Prof. Dr. Serap Taştekin and Lecturer Fatma Atakan gave a talk on "Republic and Women".

Assist. Prof. Dr. Serap Taştekin noted that Turkish women have a combative structure. Stating that Turkish women had an important place in ancient societies, Taştekin stated that women were also involved in social and economic life during the Ottoman period.

Lecturer Fatma Atakan, in her presentation titled "Atatürk and Women's Rights", made statements about the place of women in social, cultural, political, legal, educational, military and economic fields.

The conversation, which was attended by faculty members and students, ended with the presentation of a plaque.