Fatma Aliye's Women Caharacters in the Public Space

Abstract

The concept of "public sphere”, which has been one of the main discussion topics of the academy since the 1980s, derives its basis from Jürgen Habermas' The Structural Transformation of Publicity, published in 1962. The bourgeoisie, whose influence has increased in European society, creates a public community in places such as halls, cafes, and clubs where it had critically discussed in the 18th century, and the influence of this community has spread to the public with the increase in the publishing of magazines and newspapers. The liberal public sphere, where people engage in cultural exchanges, was interrupted and collapsed by the revolutions that started at the end of the 19th century and the wars that continued afterward. There was limited public space in the Ottoman society that started with coffee houses (kahvehane) and reading houses (kıraathane) and continued with increasing publishing activities during the Meşrutiyet period. By actively participating in publishing activities, Ottoman women opened a new way in this public space and strengthened their positions. In this study, which considers the novels of Fatma Aliye, the first Ottoman female writer, chronologically, from the woman who is restricted to the house and has a secondary position against the male power (Hayal ve Hakikat), to the woman who becomes increasingly prominent in the public sphere and has her autonomous voice (Muhadarat, Refet, Udi) will be studied.