European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - November 29, 1993, Darmstadt, Hesse                                In Turkey s new world women walk behind no one by William d. Montalbano los Angeles times ome women on the shuttle flight Between Istanbul Turkey and the capital of Ankara Wear concealing head scarves above Long shapeless Coats. They walk an obedient Pace behind their husbands. These Are the women of devout islam and their self effacing Sisters tread the byways of every turkish City. Yet on the air plane they Are outnumbered in these changing times by women flying alone in sculpted business suits with Short skirts and High heels. They May carry Allah in their hearts but More visible Are their modish briefcases and their self Confidence. They Trail no one. It can be disconcerting when a country fails to live up to its stereotype but that is what is happening in patriarchal Turkey. In this fierce land of storied sultans potbellied pols bristling mustaches baggy pants and Midnight express hardly a harem happens. The new prime minister of Turkey is a woman. That surprises nearly everyone. Except the turks. Putting substance on the framework of Legal Equality the women of Turkey Are playing an increasingly visible Active and assertive role in their rapidly modernizing society. Tradition Dies hard in Rural areas and among religious fundamentalists. But across Turkey old legacies of machismo and Muslim inequality Are being rapidly overturned amid Pell Mell urbanization and modernization. Turkish women Are becoming symbols of achievement in a Tough neighbourhood where Power has always been a male preserve. Prime minister Tansu filler is not an aberration. Educated turkish women now expect and receive equal treatment and Opportunity said Oya a gone my Ghiasuddin a professor of International relations in Ankara who has represented Turkey at International women s conferences. The growth of women in Turkey s National profile mirrors the flourishing westernization that took off in Turkey in the 80s. Only last year did parliament finally repeal a Long ignored requirement that women get their husbands permit Sion to work. A pending Reform seen As a historic monday november 29. 1993 prime minister Tansu filler above is a Symbol of Turkey s modern women who arc turning the country s old stereotypes into snapshots of history. Advance by women s advocates would award divorcing wives one half the goods and property acquired during marriage. In one poll 82 percent of women said they believe they could Lead full lives without getting married. Men Tell pollsters they want women who Are Loyal Beautiful and affectionate. Women want to be Clever self confident and perceptive. As a general Rule the degree of emancipation is highest in the West and diminishes in direct proportion to How far East you go from Istanbul. In 1985, one third of the women were illiterate compared with one eighth of the men. Half of women married before age 18, and one fifth were married off by their families to cousins. Education counts in one poll 48 percent of women in Istanbul thought it was Normal for husbands to beat their wives. Among College educated women 5 percent found it Normal. A diploma is for life not like a husband who can leave you counsels Leyla Alaton a Magazine advice columnist for working women. Today about 15 percent of eligible women go to University where they Are outnumbered 2-1 by men said Sirin Tekeli a political scientist who runs a women s Library in Istanbul. But the ratio is narrowing. Already about one Quarter of turkish University professors Are women and women dominate some Fields including the humanities is Gary Milter the arts languages and teaching. Tekeli said the number of female managers in business has doubled in the past five years. From a Low base yes but a sure sign of what is by now an unstoppable tide. Three turkish ambassadors and one provincial governor Are women. The proportion of female doctors and medical professors is higher than in the United states. Women received Legal Equality overnight after the collapsed ottoman Empire was reborn As the Republic of Turkey in the 1920s. The farsighted reforms of Kemal Ataturk the Republic s founder separated Church and state and imported the Swiss civil code. The code meant Turkey could never have sharia Muslim religious Law or adopt any islamic belief celebrating the supremacy of Man said Tekeli a founder of turkish feminism which she estimates is about a decade behind similar movements in other nations. Short subject not everyone pleased by catalan revival by Alan Riding the new York times when classes resumed in Salou Spain in september Young children attending the Santa Maria Del mar primary school brought Home a disturbing bit of news for their Spanish speaking parents. A the future they would be taught Only in the language of Catalonia. Many parents were furious. The proud Region of Northeast Spain has Long been promoting catalan As a Way of reinforcing its identity As a  but until now with Spanish speakers accounting for about half its 6 million residents bilingualism was the Norm in Many schools. The decision to expose children Between the Ages of 3 and 8 Only to catalan was therefore a significant step in the Campaign to make catalan the dominant language of the Region. And since language culture and politics Are All interwoven in Catalonia a Stormy debate was bound to follow. Spanish speaking parents in Salou a resort 70 Miles South of Barcelona Are leading the protests but they have been joined by parents from elsewhere in Catalonia. And together they have formed a committee in defense of Spanish to give weight to their demand that their children be taught in Spanish. We cannot allow Spanish to be suppressed when this is the official language of Spain a language spoken by Over 300 million people a world language Jose Ignacio Allue the committee s president said. We can t have it replaced by a language spoken by just 2 or 3 million  Angela Diest Barsch a local Mother saw politics behind the change. The regional government has a fixed idea that Catalonia should become a Sovereign nation she said. And the quickest Way is to take kids at the age of 3 and teach them catalan and catalan nationalist  the regional government denies any separatist ambitions and notes that when democracy returned to Spain in 1978, Spanish and catalan were recognized As co official languages of this Region. Now it says its Only aim is to ensure that everyone is bilingual. But while catalans Are clearly delighted by the Renaissance of their Romance language which is closely Akin to Provencal Many Spanish speaking workers who have been drawn to the traditionally prosperous Region parts of Spain have begun to feel victims of Subtle discrimination. A Mother who has been fighting a Barcelona school on the Issue asserted that Many parents Are scared of protesting. People who work in the civil service people like myself with companies we re afraid of reprisals she said. Many parents Are hoping that in a Case to a decided in january the supreme court in Madrid will Rule in their favor. But if it does to some Are ready to leave Catalonia. I have already asked to be transferred one Young teacher said. If i stay my daughter will be taught Spanish As if it were a foreign  the stars and stripes 17