Norm-making through norm contestation: Gender equality norms and the Havle Women’s Association in Türkiye

This article contributes to the literature on norm contestation and resistance by moving beyond the binary of resistance versus reinforcement, focusing instead on the generative potential of norm contestation in shaping gender equality norms. Analyzing the case of the Havle Women's Association, a faith-based feminist organization in Türkiye, it demonstrates how local actors reinterpret rather than simply accept or reject international norms. Operating within a context marked by the AKP's conservative gender policies, secular feminist resistance, and rising global anti-gender discourse, Havle formulates an alternative vision that blends feminist ideals with Islamic values. Through its discourse, initiatives, and advocacy, Havle challenges both conservative and secular feminist interpretations of gender equality, leading to normative innovation. The article argues that such contestation enables the localization of gender norms from an Islamist-feminist perspective and highlights how the agency of local actors can generate new norms, offering a powerful response to anti-gender movements globally.