Abstract

In an effort to “modernize” Turkish society shortly after World War I, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk instituted a number of reforms designed to encourage the separation of religion and government. Although he did not ban the wearing of the hijab, a headscarf traditionally worn by many Muslim women, he encouraged Western style dress. Today Turkish women cannot attend public schools or public universities while wearing the hijab. In many parts of Turkey the wearing of the hijab is associated with a lack of education, often limiting opportunities for women who select this style of dress. While their grandmothers and great-grandmothers had little choice as to the wearing of this traditional Muslim garb, many well-educated, thoughtful 21st century Turkish women have consciously and purposefully selected this type of dress. Structuration Theory, particularly the construct of Agency, will be used to provide a framework for understanding these personal decisions that have the potential to change the manner in which religion and secular society intersect.