Abstract
Mustafa Kemal Atatürk (1881-1938) founded the new, secular Republic of Türkiye in 1923. Among the most important initiatives of the Kemalist national program in the early years of the Republic was the construction of the new capital, Ankara. During these formative years, a massive architectural urbanization and modernism program was implemented, visually distancing the nascent Republic from its recent past (Değirmenci, 2022). The history and story of the newly established nation-state have been transmitted from generation to generation through different elements of public history, such as museums, monuments, and statues on the streets. In this context, this paper investigates how women belonging to the Turkish nation have been represented from past to present and how this gendered national identity is constructed through representations in the example of Ankara City. The data of this study, which is based on qualitative research methodology, consists of sculptures, monuments, and museums in Ankara. The data is analyzed through content analysis and social semiotic analysis. As a result of the study, it was observed that women were depicted within the framework of traditional roles such as motherhood and wifehood and as active fighters in the Turkish War of Independence, a significant and empowering role in Turkish history. It was also found that womanhood was associated with pride, dignity, determination, freedom, and cultural development. It is also understood that a particular emphasis was placed on women’s role in nation-building and constructing the modern Turkish nation through representation through elements of public history.
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
KEYWORDS
Women Urban History Ankara City Image
