Who Are The Turks?
Some of the results of a 2007 study on middle-class identity in Turkey by Dr. Hakan Yilmaz of Bosphorus University: (JW: I find it particularly intriguing that the headscarf is not seen as a symbol of piety, but of good character, as I have long argued that the meaning of “covering” to those who practice it has changed radically over the past two decades.):
According to the research, 58.3 percent of Turks see themselves as “middle class” and 24.8 percent of themselves as “slightly below middle class.”
47.7 percent believe that the rich worked consistently and hard for their wealth. 55.3 percent believe the poor are this way because they do not work hard enough.
43.9 percent of Turks classify themselves being “post-right wing political,” supporting democracy and the values of the West.
62.7 percent of respondents describe themselves as modern conservatives.
While 44.9 percent say “secularism must continue to be implemented without change”; 12.3 percent say they have a new interpretation for secularism.
Public support for
73 percent of modern conservatives say that wearing a headscarf is not a sign of being pious but being of good character.
So about 45% of the public thinks ‘good character’ when they see a headscarf. (73% of 62.7%) 43% of the public support “the values of the West.” Either those groups don’t overlap, or somebody has been lying to the public about “the West.”
Yeah, about that headscarf being a symbol of good character, not of piety. That strikes me as a change, too, which adds insult to injury!
Anyone who might find it an improvement, an okay thing, that wearing headscarves came to symbolize ‘good character’ as opposed to ‘piety’ should check this MEMRI Blog entry.