At the “Being a Woman: Our Story” event held at Near East University, the position of women in society, their struggle for equality, and the problems they face were discussed with the participation of experts from various disciplines.
Near East University, which is among the top 500 universities in the world, drew attention to women’s rights and social equality issues with the event it organized as part of International Women’s Day on March 8th. The event, titled “Being a Woman: Our Story,” organized in collaboration with the Near East University Gender Research and Application Center (TOCAM) and the Atatürkist Thought Development Club, was held at the Atatürk Culture and Congress Center.
The event, which attracted great interest, examined the problems women face in social life within the framework of health, psychology, local governments, and rights-based approaches. At the opening of the event, Near East University Rector Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ, Head of the Gender Research and Application Center Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ayça Demet Atay, and President of the Atatürkist Thought Development Club Zafer Özbir each gave a speech. The event was moderated by Assist. Prof. Dr. Tijen Zeybek, a faculty member of the Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences at Near East University.
The event, which featured contributions from experts in various fields, included speakers such as Hazar Topal, Psychologist at the TRNC Central Prison; Sibel Demirpençe, Head of the Social Services Department of the Nicosia Turkish Municipality; Prof. Dr. Özen Aşut, faculty member of the Public Health Department at the Near East University Faculty of Medicine; and Prof. Dr. Nur Köprülü, Head of the Political Sciences Department at the Near East University Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences.
Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ: “We will continue to be a university that not only listens to women’s stories but also takes responsibility for transforming those stories into a more just future.”
The Rector of Near East University, Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ, stated that women are an integral part of the development process of societies, the pursuit of democracy, and the ideal of equality. Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ said, “The story of women is not merely a matter of a specific geography or era; it is a phenomenon that shapes the common future of humanity.” In his speech, he also drew attention to current global issues, saying, “Unfortunately, today the world is facing severe humanitarian crises because of ongoing wars and conflicts, alongside the search for equality and freedom. Women bear the heaviest burden of wars; they experience it at homes, on migration routes, in hospital corridors, and in the rubble of destroyed cities.” He also emphasized that women are strong advocates for peace and solidarity, adding, “It is women who organize social solidarity in times of crisis, keep the family together, and take on a leading role in reconstruction processes.”
In this context, Prof. Dr. Şanlıdağ also touched upon the social responsibilities of universities. Şanlıdağ said, “As a university, our responsibility is to strengthen the sense of justice, spread awareness of equality, and educate our youth as individuals sensitive to human rights. Academia is one of the most important arenas for free thought, critical thinking, and social transformation.” Prof. Dr. Şanlıdağ, noting that Near East University considers it its duty to advocate for women’s rights and social equality, added, “Here, in the light of science, we will continue to be advocates for equality and human dignity. We will continue to be a university that not only listens to women’s stories but also takes responsibility for transforming those stories into a more just future.”
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ayça Demet Atay: “Our goal is to achieve a social transformation where violence, inequality, and discrimination are eliminated.”
Emphasizing that the struggle for gender equality is a long-term and multifaceted process, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ayça Demet Atay, Head of the Near East University Gender Research and Application Center, underlined that the fundamental goal is the transformation of the patriarchal structure. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ayça Demet Atay stated that violence against women is not limited to cases reported in the media, saying, “Murders are just the tip of the iceberg. Psychological, economic, and sexual violence often remain invisible.” She also noted that the media’s tendency to present violence news with terms like “crime of passion” or “insanity” sometimes makes the problem invisible.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ayça Demet Atay, also addressing the obstacles working women face in their careers, said, “Women often encounter invisible barriers that prevent them from reaching top management positions despite their competence. This situation reveals a systematic inequality defined as the ‘glass ceiling’.” At the end of her speech, emphasizing that gender equality is not only a matter for women but for the entire society, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ayça Demet Atay said, “Gender equality is directly related to democracy, human rights, and social peace. Our goal is to achieve a social transformation where violence, inequality, and discrimination are eliminated.”
Zafer Özbir: “We must take responsibility and demonstrate the will to shape our future.”
Stating that March 8th is not just a day on the calendar, Zafer Özbir, President of the Near East University Atatürkist Thought Development Club, said, “March 8th is the history of labor, resistance, and the pursuit of rights.” Expressing that women have always played a strong and decisive role in Turkish history, Özbir stated that in Turkish culture, women are not only active within the family but play an active and crucial role in production, management, and, when necessary, in the field of struggle. Özbir noted that the Republic institutionalized this historical legacy with a modern legal system, adding that Mustafa Kemal Atatürk considered women’s rights a “matter of civilization.”
In his speech, Özbir also mentioned that figures like Afet İnan, Sabiha Gökçen, and Nene Hatun are important symbols of the pioneering role Turkish women have played throughout history, emphasizing that Turkish women have never been passive but founding actors in social development. Addressing the youth, Özbir stated that social equality and justice can only be strengthened through awareness and responsibility, saying, “Women’s rights do not develop spontaneously; equality does not emerge through passive waiting. As young people, we must take responsibility and demonstrate the will to shape our future.” Concluding his speech with Atatürk’s words addressed to Turkish women, Özbir stated that the true power of women will emerge in the construction of a society equipped with knowledge, culture, and awareness.
