Anti-feminism in Turkey: a critical political economy perspective

Abstract

This paper tries to outline the recent operationalisation of anti-feminism by the state in Turkey. Although the governing Justice and Development Party (AKP) in Turkey has always recurred to anti-feminist references, the undoing of pro-gender equality steps taken by the same ruling party is a recent phenomenon. This paper suggests a feminist critical political economy perspective to present the actual links between Turkey’s deepening social crisis and the rise of anti-feminism. It concludes that anti-feminism operates as an alternative state project, aiming to upgrade the patriarchal dividend while trying to buy time for crisis management. To discuss these arguments, the article sheds light on the specific argumentation strategies instrumentalised by the anti-feminist campaigners organised under the leadership of certain Islamist newspapers in Turkey. Whether the anti-feminist state project will reach its aims is highly dubious as women’s resistance to and feminist dissent against the violent housewifisation processes in Turkey are powerful.