Exploring the context of womens sexuality in eastern Turkey.

This report of an analysis of marriage customs and control of womens sexuality in eastern Turkey opens with a brief description of the study area which contains a semi-feudal traditional multi-ethnic agricultural society that fosters a marked discrepancy between marriage laws contained in the Turkish Civil Code of 1926 and actual practices. Next the position of women in eastern and western Turkey is contrasted to show that the eastern region lags in indicators of womens status. The research questionnaires and methodology are then presented with background characteristics of the 599 women aged 14-75 who were interviewed. Findings are then presented for type of marriage (monogamous or polygynous civil or religious) marriage age how the marriage was arranged and whether the woman consented to the marriage or met her husband before the marriage. Next the article notes that while no laws restrict a womans right to engage in any relationship women who have extramarital sexual relationships risk being murdered. Additional tables illustrate 1) the womens opinions about whether they have the right to divorce their husband if he commits adultery and what would happen to them if they committed adultery and 2) the widespread incidence of domestic violence. These findings indicate that early marriage and polygyny are prevalent most marriages are arranged and some are forced (which may be changing) and virtually none of the women seek legal recourse for violence or rape. Specific campaigns are now being mounted to give these women access to their human rights.