Istanbul Nişantaşı University Holds March 8 International Women’s Day Panel
The International Women’s Day programme explored women’s roles in the Turkic world’s history, science and art through civil society cooperation. Panels and an exhibition highlighted visibility, equal educational opportunities and social participation.
Women’s Social Participation, Cultural Heritage and Civil Society Cooperation
Hosted by Istanbul Nişantaşı University, the “March 8 International Women’s Day Program—International Panel on Wise Women of the Turkic World” attracted strong participation. It was organized jointly by the Women and Family Studies Application and Research Centre, Istanbul University-Cerrahpaşa, the Women Academics Association and the Umay Ana Turkic World Women’s Union.
Prof. Dr. Mualâ Uydu Yücel, Founding President of the Women Academics Association and Umay Ana Turkic World Women’s Union, delivered opening remarks. Emphasizing that women’s historical struggle continues today, she highlighted the association’s university activities and the importance of projects making women’s place in cultural heritage more visible. She also thanked everyone who contributed to the exhibition “Women in Turkish Folk Culture.”
Prof. Dr. Göknur Akçadağ, Director of our Women and Family Studies Research Centre, also gave opening remarks. She began by thanking Lecturer Özlem Özer Tuğal, curator of “Women in Turkish Folk Clothing Culture.” Akçadağ emphasized women’s historical underrepresentation and the long predominance of male narratives in historiography. She noted that developments over the past century have accelerated the inclusion of women’s experiences in historical scholarship and called for a strong history of humanity through fair historiography encompassing women and men together. She stated that March 8 should be a turning point for greater visibility of women in social life and wished all women a happy International Women’s Day.
Rector Prof. Dr. Ayşegül Komsuoğlu Çıtıpıtıoğlu highlighted the importance of women’s contributions to society, art and science, emphasizing that these should be honoured collectively.
The Rector stated that the Turkic world’s ancient history contains countless examples demonstrating women’s role as a sustaining force in society. She emphasized Turkish culture’s heritage of women and men building the future together and recalled that, under Mustafa Kemal Atatürk’s leadership, Turkish women gained the rights to vote and stand for election before women in many other countries. Noting women’s longstanding strong presence in academia, she affirmed the university’s continued support for women academics and staff.
She emphasized that women’s active participation in decision-making across science, art, politics and economics is vital for a sustainable society. Strengthening women’s voices plays a critical role in building a more equal and stronger society, and sustainability is impossible without equal educational opportunities. She celebrated International Women’s Day for all women contributing to life and thanked all participating stakeholders.
Prof. Dr. İrade Memmedova from the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences was invited to deliver the opening address for the panel “Famous Women in Azerbaijani History.”
Memmedova discussed Azerbaijan’s important historical women, highlighting the leadership of Tomris Hatun, described as the first female ruler and a heroic commander. She also stated that the monument built for Müminə Hatun demonstrates the value Azerbaijan places on women.
Emphasizing women’s role in Azerbaijan’s cultural and artistic heritage, Memmedova described poet Mehseti Gencevi as the country’s first female poet and also its first female chess player, a composer and an important musician. The panel discussed Azerbaijani women’s pioneering contributions to politics, art, science and literature, emphasizing that their achievements should inspire women today.
The “Wise Women of the Turkic World” panel examined women’s historical roles across politics, art, science and literature. Prof. Dr. Göknur Akçadağ chaired the first session, featuring Prof. Dr. Mualâ Uydu Yücel on “Women Leaders in Turkish History,” Dr. Aygül Şengün on “Zira Naurızbay’s Golden Pen,” and Asst. Prof. Dr. Zebunısa Kamalova on “Nadire Begim at the Intersection of Politics, Literature and Family.”
Dr. Nimet Elif Uluğ chaired the second session, with Assoc. Prof. Dr. Reyila Kaşgarli presenting “Pioneers of Uyghur Musical Art from Past to Present: Amanısa Hanım and Şehide Hanım,” Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kamelya Tekne presenting “A Legacy from Crimea to Türkiye: Şefika Gaspıralı,” and Refika Muhammedgil presenting “Pioneering Women of the Ahıska Turks.”
