State of the state in their minds: Intersectional framework for women's citizenship in Turkey

SynopsisBased on Crenshaw's (1991) structural and political intersectionality, this paper analyzes women's perceptions of, relationship to, and distance from, the Turkish state as well as their engagement in politics through interviews with women in different social locations in Turkey. Structural and political intersectionality framework is helpful to analyze obstacles and challenges that block an individual's enjoyment of rights as a democratic citizen. Structural and political intersectionality also shows how the Turkish state's treatment of intersectional identities fuels tensions and cleavages among social groups and individual citizens. This paper argues that using intersectional analysis will contribute to understanding the relationship between the Turkish state and its citizens and will allow an examination of identity from a distinct angle.