The role of women in Ottoman, one of the most powerful militant empires, was reserved if not nothing. Although female enjoyed equality, even advantages, in some social aspects, their social status, broadly, was lower than that of men. In Ottoman society, women were restricted from social, economic, religious opportunities. As time goes, women gained more rights gradually, yet the gender discrimination ossified in the Ottoman empire did last.
In the first place, women were submissive to their male families, despites some freedoms. In the family affairs, women were prejudiced even before birth, as “among the blessings of God undoubtedly / Is the preservation of sons / And the death of daughters.” (Doc 1) In general, women were subject to the …show more content…
The power, though indirect, was an important ideological progress in the patriarchal society. To a large extent, men, especially, governors, even the sultan, could not be utterly undisturbed and dispassionate about the charming female. Thus, the opinions of women indirectly influenced the ruler. For example, Hurrem, Suleiman the Magnificent’s wife, was an extremely beautiful and well-dressed and versatile women, attracting the sultan’s attention. (Doc 6) Due to the beauty of Muslim women, men easily fell in love with them. Suleiman the Magnificent declared his affection for his wife. She was “my [the sultan] woman of the beautiful hair, love of the slanted brow, love of eyes full of mischief.” (Doc 7) Therefore, there were opportunities that women, as informal advisers, participated in the complex political machinations. Hurrem, the wife of Suleiman the Magnificent, even persuaded his husband to kill his own son in order to let her son succeed the throne. Hence, the indirect, but sometimes extremely strong, powers prompted the women to intervene public policies. The privilege of women in Ottoman was admired, as a Catholic priest said “the Turks govern the world and their wives govern them. In no other country women do enjoy them as much.” (Doc 8) However, the rights were limited and women had no legal suffrage to publicly partake political decision and held an official political position. (Doc 4) In other words, the opinions of women in Ottoman were supposed to incarnate through the approval of
In the first place, women were submissive to their male families, despites some freedoms. In the family affairs, women were prejudiced even before birth, as “among the blessings of God undoubtedly / Is the preservation of sons / And the death of daughters.” (Doc 1) In general, women were subject to the …show more content…
The power, though indirect, was an important ideological progress in the patriarchal society. To a large extent, men, especially, governors, even the sultan, could not be utterly undisturbed and dispassionate about the charming female. Thus, the opinions of women indirectly influenced the ruler. For example, Hurrem, Suleiman the Magnificent’s wife, was an extremely beautiful and well-dressed and versatile women, attracting the sultan’s attention. (Doc 6) Due to the beauty of Muslim women, men easily fell in love with them. Suleiman the Magnificent declared his affection for his wife. She was “my [the sultan] woman of the beautiful hair, love of the slanted brow, love of eyes full of mischief.” (Doc 7) Therefore, there were opportunities that women, as informal advisers, participated in the complex political machinations. Hurrem, the wife of Suleiman the Magnificent, even persuaded his husband to kill his own son in order to let her son succeed the throne. Hence, the indirect, but sometimes extremely strong, powers prompted the women to intervene public policies. The privilege of women in Ottoman was admired, as a Catholic priest said “the Turks govern the world and their wives govern them. In no other country women do enjoy them as much.” (Doc 8) However, the rights were limited and women had no legal suffrage to publicly partake political decision and held an official political position. (Doc 4) In other words, the opinions of women in Ottoman were supposed to incarnate through the approval of