The irony of Valentine’s Day in Turkey
Turkish women are still victims of unacceptable levels of violence, and the treatment of women remains a topic of political manipulation.
Seda Sayan is a popular Turkish singer turned reality show diva with her debut show at Kanal D titled “Mother-in-law and Bride Come to Seda!” They are surely not without the sons or the husbands, who say the last word. Sayan was inquiring on Feb. 11 about which occasion sons or husbands would consider as more important to celebrate: Mother’s Day or Valentine’s Day. The mothers-in-law were all in favor of Mother’s Day, while the brides chose Valentine’s Day. The brides were on the winning side until that last question, but the sons prioritized Mother’s Day!
The brides, however, made certain that their gifts had been bought weeks in advance and that their husbands were not indifferent about celebrating Valentine’s Day.
Valentine’s Day has somehow entered the social fabric of Turkish society. Even Sadik Yakut, deputy parliament spokesman, opened the session today by celebrating the parliamentarians' Valentine's Day, and hoping for a day of affection for the day's agenda.
It may sound ironic from afar that Turkish men could be so romantic and thoughtful while the statistics on violence against women are ringing alarm bells. The fact is, these are all individual experiences, but Turks culturally consider motherhood as untouchable, the highest honor a woman may earn. And although there might be plenty of bizarre things happening in Turkey, it is unlikely that people would publicly attack a woman with a 6-month-old baby — whether with headscarf or not. That is, however, what Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan had contended.
