iKnow Politics

Among the many issues bringing protestors together at Gezi Park, the now-iconic site of struggle in Istanbul’s Taksim Square, is the demand for women’s liberation.

Coming from many walks of life and expressing a myriad of ideals and values, the women of the Occupy Gezi Movement have nevertheless voiced a collective desire: to fight the undercurrent of deeply entrenched patriarchal values and reclaim autonomy over their own bodies and lifestyles.

A free press, crucial to any democracy, plays a significant role in shaping public attitudes.  It can reinforce voter stereotypes about certain types of candidates, or it can help dispel the kinds of opinions that for many years in many places have hampered efforts by women to become full partners in the political process.

The Democratic Party of Indonesia (DPI) is seeking to attract more women to participate in the upcoming presidential candidate convention.

Nova Riyanti Yusuf, member of the DPI, said: “Personally, I would like women to come forward at the convention especially to compete with other candidates, [so that] our politics will be more exciting"

“We once had a female president, Megawati Sukarnoputri. The names of female figures should be raised. If there are women who would like to participate, don’t be shy.”

Fatma Bostan Unsal, one of the founders of the Turkish ruling party Justice and Development Party, asserted that over 13 million women wearing hijab are barred from contesting the parliamentary elections. 

A group of 57 women including journalists, academicians, politicians and artists called last week for the end of all restrictions regarding dress codes. 

Political authoritarianism has been constant feature in the Arab political systems, and despite the ongoing “Arab Spring,” there is a continuing tendency to prevent women from freely participating in political processes. Recently, a handful of Arab countries have consented to slightly alter their political systems so as to allow women and opposition groups to have a greater say on political issues.