The Modern Woman's Rights Movement: A Historical SurveySchirmacher, Käthe
History
The Modern Woman's Rights Movement: A Historical Survey
Schirmacher, Käthe
Women -- Social and moral questions; Women's rights
In Constantinople there has been founded a "Young Turkish Woman's League"
that proposes to bring about the same great revolutionary changes in the
intellectual life of woman that have already been introduced into the
political life of man. Knowledge and its benefits must in the future be
made accessible to the Turkish women. This is to be done openly. Formerly
all strivings of the Turkish women were carried on in secret. The women
revolutionists were anxiously guarded; as far as possible, information
concerning their movements was secured before they left their homes. The
Turkish women wish to prove that they, as well as the women of other
countries, have human rights. When the constitution of the "Young Turkish
Woman's League" was being drawn up, Enver Bey was present. He was
thoroughly in favor of the demands of the new woman's rights movement. The
"Young Turkish Woman's League" is under the protection of Princess Refià
Sultana, daughter of the Sultan. Princess Refià, a young woman of
twenty-one years of age, has striven since her eighteenth year to acquire
a knowledge of the sciences. She speaks several languages. The enthusiasm
of the Young Turkish women is great. Many of them appear on the streets
without veils,--a thing that no prominent Turkish woman could do formerly.
Women of all classes have joined the League. The committee daily receives
requests for admission to membership.
BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
Total population: 1,591,036.
The men preponderate numerically.
Bosnia and Herzegovina, being Mohammedan countries, have harems and the
restricted views of harem life. Naturally, a woman's rights movement is
not to be thought of. Polygamy and patriarchal life are characteristic.
Into this Mohammedan country the Austrian government has sent women
disseminators of the culture of western Europe,[113]--the Bosnian district
women doctors. The first of these was Dr. Feodora Krajevska in Dolna
Tuszla, now in Serajewo. Now she has several women colleagues. The women
doctors wear uniforms,--a black coat, a black overcoat with crimson
facings and with two stars on the collar.
PERSIA
Total population: about 9,500,000.
In Persia hardly a beginning of the woman's rights movement exists. The
Report[114] that I have before me closes thus: "The Persian woman lives,
as it were, a negative life, but does not seem to strive for a change in
her condition." Certainly not. Like the Turkish and the Arabian woman, she
is bound by the Koran. Her educational opportunities are even less (there
are very few European schools, governesses, and women doctors in Persia).
Her field of activity is restricted to agriculture, domestic service,
tailoring, and occasionally, teaching. However, she is said to be quite
skillful in the management of her financial affairs. As far as I know, the
Persian woman took no part in the constitutional struggle of 1908-1909.
INDIA
Total population: 300,000,000.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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