Women in History Textbooks (1931-1949)

Abstract

In the new regime of the Republic of Turkey founded by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, a strong social change was initiated. The most radical of these changes took place in the field of women and women's rights. In order for Turkish society to reach a modern and contemporary level, the position of Turkish women in the social, political, legal and economic fields was redefined and their duties and responsibilities in society were redefined in order to ensure that they had the same rights and freedoms as men. During this period, women were given the most important role in keeping the values ​​of the Republic alive and transferring them to the new generation. Women were expected to educate themselves within the framework of the fictionalized "Republican Woman" image, to be an example to society and to raise the new generation. During the Atatürk Period, education was used as the most important tool in creating a civilized and modern society. In education, great care was paid to the subject to be taught in schools and within this scope, the first history textbooks belonging to the History of the Republic prepared for secondary education began to be used in the 1931-1932 academic year. History textbooks were re-prepared in order to teach the aims of the Republic to the young generations, to create a new Turkish identity and to ensure social transformation