Gendering Late Ottoman Society and Reconstructing Gender in the Women's Press

Abstract

This article analyses the construction of gender differences in the late Ottoman Empire through women's periodicals, which acted as a key medium in the redefinition of gender roles. It examines how new understandings of gender roles emerged amid rapid transformations in traditional societal structures, particularly in the women’s press. Both male and female Ottoman reformers actively engaged in these debates, addressing issues such as the inherent nature of men and women (fitra), human biology and the perceived natural differences between the sexes to justify new social roles. By combining Islamic and secular perspectives, these reformers sought to expand the rights and visibility of urban Ottoman women in a rapidly changing society. Through an analysis of these concepts, their application and their ideological underpinnings, this article demonstrates how definitions of gender roles evolved over time. It further reveals how Ottoman reformers justified their calls for women's rights and changes in their status, demonstrating that their efforts aimed not only to redefine Ottoman notions of femininity and masculinity, but also to assert control over them.