THE NEW WOMAN.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXV, Issue 4759, 3 October 1924, Page 3

THE NEW WOMAN.

ADVANCEMENT IN TURKEY. HAREM TO OFFICE DESK. The feminists of Constantinople are protesting against loopholes ip the Bill to establish monogamy. Among no section of the human race has the war brought a greater change than among the women of Turkey. After an absence of thirteen years the writer returned to Constantinople in September of Hast year, and has since been making a survey of changes and conditions. These are very striking, and bid fair to influence the new Republic in a marked degree. No longer can Turkey reckon without her women, writes Maud Rowntree in (he “Daily News." Whereas in times past they were in complete subjection, imprisoned in harems, with eunuchs on guard, to-day they asisert their right to a voice in the affairs of the - nation. They have a flourishing Suffrage Society which numbers several hundred members. Of late these women have concerned themselves with the “loi familiale,” and are petitioning the National Assembly to grant equal marriage, inheritance, and divorce rights, without regard to sex. Whereas before the war no woman entered any profession, Turkey to-day counts many women among her best school teachers, has at least one qualified woman physician, a number of women medical students, and many women attending the Stamboul University.. in which they work alongside of the men. One excellent co-educational school is run entirely by women, the Principal having evolved her theory of Education without the aid of foreign- . ers, for Nakie Hanum speaks only fTyrkish, and has never been at ; a

foreign school. The schoolgirl of to-day is no longer the little frightened lady, dressed in long skirts and wearing a veil. She is a bright energetic maiden, wearing a school uniform, going in for sports, attending school till she is fiftelen, am' longer if she cares to do so. Picnics are arranged for both girls and boys, and girls are allowed to enjoy a’H the privileges once only granted to the “stronger sex.” In office work, too, woman is taking her place. There is hardly a business house which does not employ its women clerks, and the telephonfe girls are all Turkish. Everywhere one meets young girls coming and going, carrying business-like attache, cases, each of them showing by her bearing that she has learned the dignity of labour A group of fine women is working splendidly, organising relief work for the women and children in the refugee camps. The Societe Proteetrice des Enfahts counts many womfen on itis committee, and the homes for the children are wonderfully well run. Most people can remember the time when no Turkish woman was allowed to leave her native land: to-day the doors of travel are ope(n to all, men and women alike. One Turkish woman has lately attended the Women’s International Congress in Washington ; anothfer attended the International Medical Women's Congress in London. Others are studying in various cities in Europe and America, and will return fully equipped to take positions of responsibility in thiciir own country. The ladder of liberty has been set up, and the women are climbing it rung by rung, steadily and surely. Theirs be it to reach the top, and to realise fully the joy of attainment.