We are proud to announce that Prof. Alev Erkilet of Sociology Department, and our MA student Hüsamettin Öztürk have co-authored an article titled “The Problem of Women in İsmet Özel's Thought”. The article was published in the 94th issue of Tezkire journal in December, 2025. The study offers a critical sociological analysis of the perceptions regarding women in the works of the prominent Turkish thinker and poet, İsmet Özel.
The article argues that, in contrast to the evocative language of his poetry, Özel adopts a strict, "male-centered" and judgmental stance towards women in social issues. The authors examine Özel's claims that women lack “abstract thinking” and “foundational agency”, subjecting his views on women's roles in philosophy and religious exegesis to a rigorous sociological critique. The study questions how these perspectives limit the understanding of womanhood within a narrow framework.
Furthermore, the research addresses Özel’s controversial views on veiled women and the February 28 process. In response to Özel’s claim that February 28 was merely a “myth”, the authors present systematic evidence of the rights violations experienced by women in education and public life during that era. The article concludes that Özel's approach remains detached from social realities and overlooks the genuine contributions of women to civilization.
We congratulate both Prof. Erkilet and our student for this significant collaboration.
