Turkey: Women gain legal equality

Off Our Backs, Jan/Feb 2002 by Elliot, Farar, Douglas, Carol Anne, Kulla, Bridget, Maclay, Amanda, Et al

The parliament of Turkey has approved changes to the country's legal codes that give women a more equal position compared with men.

The code had specified that husbands were the heads of families, so wives had no power to make decisions concerning their children. Now, husbands and wives will have equal power (theoretically) in such decisions.

Also, the new code specifies that a woman can get ajob without her husband's permission.

The new code also says that property will be divided equally in divorces. Before, women could only claim property that was registered under their names.

The code will raise the legal age of marriage to 15 for women and 17 for men. Single parents will be permitted to adopt children.

"Our country is closer to achieving the goal of equality between women and men," said a statement from the Flying Broom, a women's rights group.

- info from womensissues.com