@article{2018,title={WOMEN AND FAMILY AMONG TURKS IN THE MIDDLE AGES},abstractNode={The information provided by Turks' epics of creation allows us to reveal important data about the Turks' perception of women and the marriage institution. On the other hand, the events that took place in the monarch families and described in historical references can also provide an insight on the subject. According to the findings of the folklorists, loyalty constitutes the foundation of the Turkish family structure. This is an important finding in terms of manifesting the Turks' point of view on the family institution. In our study, stories about women and family were examined in both epics and historical sources. When the literature is reviewed, it is seen that the subject of women and family has been studied by many scientists. In this study, it can be emphasized based on both the classic and the contemporary literature that monogamy is more prevalent among the Turks and as a corollary of this, Turks' approaching to the phenomena of women and family is more humane than most societies. It can be observed in the sources reviewed that the perception of women among Turks is not a perception of gender per se. In addition, woman is emphasized as an entity which is not humiliated but glorified. Horse is the saddle beast for both men and women. By the same token, unlike many societies, women can independently decide whom to marry. Even these simple examples give us the Turks' view of "human" or "human being". Although there are examples of polygamy in the Turks, it is seen to be more common among the ruling elite. The reason for this is explained that the rulers want to gain political power. It is mentioned in the literature that women also had their right to divorce when necessary. On the other hand, it can be claimed that the geography in which they lived also influenced the wanderer Turks' attitude towards women and family.},author={Mehmet ÖZMENLİ},year={2018},journal={The Journal of Academic Social Science Studies}}