An Empirical Analysis of Patriarchy in Turkey

Although many formal rules and regulations are based on the principle of gender equality and non-discrimination, patriarchal understandings, values and norms are still highly widespread and influential in Turkey, a Muslim-majority country. However, the existing literature provides very limited quantitative analyses of subordination of women to men in the Turkish context. Given this lacuna in the literature, this study provides a comprehensive empirical analysis of patriarchal attitudes and orientations in Turkish society. The following research questions direct the current study: What factors do account for patriarchal values and orientations at mass level? More specifically, how do social, political and economic differences and divisions relate to individuals’ patriarchal attitudes and orientations? What broader theoretical and policy implications can we draw from such an analysis? To answer these questions, this study utilizes original data, derived from a nationwide public opinion survey, Informal Institutions in Turkey Survey (TEKA 2019). Multivariate analyses suggest that religiosity, Sunni sectarian identity, Kurdish ethnic identity, right-oriented ideological orientations, and low socio-economic status (i.e. low education and income levels) are likely to empower patriarchal attitudes and orientations. What broader theoretical implications can we draw from the Turkish case? First, our results confirm that it would be problematic to treat Muslim-majority countries as homogenous entities in terms of patriarchal values. As confirmed by the Turkish case, certain circles might be relatively more patriarchal than some other groups in Muslim-majority countries. Second, our empirical findings generally support the modernization perspective: Modernization processes such as socio-economic development, secularization, and urbanization are likely to undermine patriarchal values and orientations in Muslim-majority countries as well.