Women in the Ottoman Balkans: gender, culture and history by Amila Buturovic and Irvin Cemil Schick

Abstract

When reading the texts in the book without prejudice, it will be seen that the women who tried to balance the necessities of an empire of many beliefs that live together and poetic justice, had roles beyond their traditional, private and public status. The women in Ottoman Balkans were foundation founders; they were organizing workers and were consuming luxury Western goods to show off. They were lovers, wives, left behinds, divorced and widows; they were symbols, mediators, subjects of folk songs and fairy tale narrators, victims of community pressure and protectors of their communities against supernatural powers.” (p.9) History is an experience that was formed not only with the contribution of men, as thought, but also with the contribution of women such as our mothers, wives and sisters. The function of woman in Ottoman society is far more important and profound than just to sit behind the cage and watch. We are the descendants of the generation who says ‘Heaven lies at the feet of the mother’