CEU eTD Collection THOSE IN THEBOTTOM:AN OFANETHNOGRAPHY EX-SEXWORKER In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts Department of DepartmentGender Studies of Central European University Central European Supervisor: Anna Loutfi Thesis submitted to Thesis submitted Budapest, Hungary Budapest, Volkan Volkan Sar 2009 By Õ ta ú CEU eTD Collection system system in Turkey. out tosomething: Ay out as politicalthe implementation itof despite her useandfluency in being partof this system points passive highlight ironiesthe Herability in translation. to system as in sex-genderthe Turkey well a not is this that argue I thesis, this In vocabulary. and narrative personal her into them translates recognition. Yet, in doing this, Ay indoing this, Yet, recognition. material today.and The financialposition of victimhood” be ableto to open up “a political, social forand personal herspace” tospeakup victimhood enablessources her to get –though as towell a very little as extent-a certain access to status in terms of social and political narrative. The main argument is thatAy The mainargument narrative. narrative of Ay of narrative In an attempt to constitute a mediatory link to understanding the autobiographical the understanding link amediatory to constitute to In anattempt ú e Tükrükçü, in this thesis, I tried to show the numerous complex aspects of her of complex show thenumerous aspects to in Itried this thesis, e Tükrükçü, ú e’s narrative e’s is aswell political mockery sex-gendera pragmatic of as this ú e takes the dominant and mainstream ideological tenets and ideological mainstream tenets thedominantand e takes ABSTRACT ú e Tükrükçü recounts whatI call “anarrative recounts of e Tükrükçü i CEU eTD Collection ILORPY...... 59 BIBLIOGRAPHY APPENDIX 2...... 57 APPENDIX 1...... 51 ...... 46 4. CONCLUSION IN THE 3. FIELD...... 25 HISTORICAL AND LEGAL2...... 7 BACKGROUND 1. INTRODUCTION...... 1 ...... ii Table of Contents ABSTRACT...... i .. After the 3.3. Brothels...... 40 Inside the 3.2...... 35 Brothels Family 3.1...... 29 Issues Entering the 2.4. Field...... 18 The Legal 2.3...... 13 Framework Historical 2.2. Background...... 10 METHODOLOGICAL 2.1...... 7 FRAMEWORK Table of Contents ii CEU eTD Collection 1 of sex involved inprostitution,of Ay workers story the possibilities of a transformation in the lives of sex workers in Turkey. idealot aboutthe butof also subjectiveunderstand a worker’s gives possible experience asex to objectthe insight does of study.Herstory this issue. adeeper not make only provides tothe It known widely her candidateshipthrough in elections.the Herstory from her own words will be registration as a sex workerTükrükçü’s point of view who wasinvolved in a political and judicialstruggle to cancel both her and to draw attention of the Turkish state to the brothels. She was lesser hassle. This study inlesserhassle. study prostitution Turkey worker’s,Ay problematizes This one sex through with status highereconomic arelatively it,if notandinsome casessecuring poverty overcoming moments of laughter. vacillating, trying to make themselves look good,tragic personal enduring losses, others enjoying and finding social roles,but aspeople going through life wondering what they do,shouldmaking mistakes, being opinionated, out acting or rules ‘cultural’ to according programmed automatons as – not living ourselves we perceive as live being in trapped all, above and and, battering, poverty victimization, is criminalization, abuse, oneof The picture which is (Küntay/Erginsoy work sex done. 2007, Zengin2005, Küntay/Çokar 2007,Zeitler 2008) of state the regulations,legal andillegal ofprostitution forms and the presentconditions under Abu-Lughod, L.(1993) Although there could be as many different accounts about sex work as number the sex work about accounts many be as different could Although there … insistently focusing on individuals and particularitiesthe of livestheir …suggest[s] others that A partial compilation of research on prostitution in Turkey many in aspects Turkey on prostitution uncovers A research compilation of partial (Abu-Lughod 1993: 27) this life 1 Writing Women’s Worlds: Bedouin Stories with almost no ways of resistance or exit as well as one of dealing with 1. INTRODUCTION 1 ú . Berkeley: University of California Press. e Tükrükçü is one of e Tükrükçüisoneof attention-grabbing ú e CEU eTD Collection other find her narrative significant. Drawing on the chronological order that she utters in her in utters she that order chronological the on Drawing significant. narrative her find other in some way listenersor the factthat the of because her second and story add plausibility to to subject and the object of her past life as a sex worker firstmy analytical projection,she inhabit will this paradoxical location in shewhich isboth the because of the strategies that she uses incoherentor missinginformation be to able to makemore herstory In plausible and coherent. of inprostitution general inand herself in particular theform of gaps, spaces, conflicts, in within herrepresentation herfindin they account Orrather aside theirher expression narrative. womennon-prostitute simultaneously in ofherself depiction herunderstanding and are allput other to compared she assumes difference the and similarity the herfamily, with her relationship inparticipation herprostitution, dependency paradoxical heron as pimp themannerwell as of her of contradictions the that say to is This invisible. experience subjective her of reality her a prostitute that between causes the inhernarrative she that draws connections Theendless brothels. of the getout yearsfinal solution marriageof to as a finally 5 and a in asex worker Turkey as followed by a divorce, herintoprostitution poncing and atimemonths of 30 in7 citiesdifferent miscarriage between and Turkey,Germany violence a life torn herfather, her of domestic thisby herisher familialandthe the problems hertoday, affects rapeat9 uncleIt that about involved ledgetbeing the conditions about worker once butalso that inprostitution. asex herto adaptingcomprehend the symbolic without to itis worldfrom. shespeaks Forher, notonly about to listener the for and convey to her for a difficulty bear to starts in prostitution involved been once having of reality very the in which narrative a into turn and contradictions and polarities atyet times incoherent. both conceivable in Itis simultaneously nature. as well as contradiction Her numerous contradictory contradictory Her numerous identificationslot within of prostitution presenta (as she expresses it) and her struggles to go out of brothels therefore renders the renders therefore brothels of out go to struggles her and it) expresses she (as 2 made CEU eTD Collection simultaneously, that is, how she understands her life today, what kind of choices she made under made she choices of kind what today, life her understands she how is, that simultaneously, investigate the political the investigate andAy political personalimplications of hand atwork thusended upasan ethnographical of account one in ex-sex I worker which literature of usedin besides The consideration into present Tükrükçü this a change thesis. taking this change of focusthis change requiredme of forced and to thinkI really what say Ay to wanted about bears thetraces I wanted deploy of only questionsthat the into in beginning. Yet, this thesis the many gaps in furtheranddiscussionother turn reopeningsfor though. Thereforethepresent work a narrow intheoretical helpful thissensewas not closure atall.This could brought about have rather myfear or My of hesitations from beginning. very the analysisapproach critical discourse from expected MA an moveA better thesis. could havebeen madeby having takenamore frames as the aswell merits my scholarly of scope limits present and current the discover understand the complexity of thatIstarted questions withthe in the beginningand also to subjectivity andfinally my turn phenomenological the on Thisinitial part. me attempt enabled to and subject the about explanations philosophical the division, subject-object tothe related and changedshifted unavoidably they year, manywhole this during ones, timesabove-mentioned the than different quite as I entered into debates as difficult as theto be able inhabit to position.this epistemological problems This attempt will thus be an analysis of, to constitute constitute to a mediatory link understanding autobiographical the to narrative ofAy narrative in reference towhat camebefore and after her prostitution, the aim thisof thesis will be Although the initial question(s) that I had in mind before starting this thesis were thesis this starting before mind in had I that question(s) initial the Although employs she that manifestations silent and strategies personal ways, the are What - she- How makes senseher of engagement in between 1993-1996 prostitution today. 3 ú e Tükrükçü’slifenarrative ú e Tükrükçü. ú e CEU eTD Collection prostitution. on its own terms but with conditions. can inaddpositive examinationto the not Thispoint only assets prostitution turn of regards to consideringAy led that conditions social the many “senses”producing related policies. In sexthis thesis, therefore, I assume and address workersa difference between the make out of of prostitution essential to understanding sex workers, that is, that understanding sex workers, of essential prostitution to aspects inner depicting of short falls violence male of victims and criminals women, pathological as dislocated socially inlegal discourses prostitution the of construction the that overall arguesin today. and Thischapter shapes formsintervention prostitutes of on prostitution the identity. inconsideration the very Thisin much constructing prostitute turn and determines women into of prostitute and social representation inconvenience of marginalized the public effect the in taking policies social the of use the show me to enable will framework legal Turkish The how sex explication of andprostitution have withinworkers defined andconstituted been the woman,prostitute is, that whether andin what ways asex isworker unlike like or otherwomen. Turkey is their todistinguish seeking and set upa difference between anda prostitute anon- onethat of underlyingthe legal of and in problems these definitions onprostitution regulations development by of my arguments of is it account In this acritical them.giving suggested part, andprostitutes in from clears prostitution a historical thewayfor Turkey aspect.It the in Turkey. brothels in state work the who sexworkers theregistered lives of shape the that influences andphysical informant,today. this its Besides suggestsapartial of project also structural,the social picture speech her of political andweaknesses thestrengths whatare inlife and her conditions adverse This thesis is divided into two parts. Part Idiscloses parts.Part This thesisistwo into both of divided legal the construction ú e to her involvement in prostitution and her interpretation of these of interpretation her and in prostitution involvement her e to 4 the subjects of prostitution the subjects of and CEU eTD Collection history of research into prostitution, and prostitution.even a quick analysis she wasin circumstances within andthe social involved within symbolic that the world of the many texts in whatregards extent to it might be possiblereveals and settles her explanations as much as possible. In overall, this partlays for bare how and to the contradictorygiven storyparticular of an ex-sex attention. havebeen herworker around people practices, with tothe andconditions regards herself asaprostitute to make My aimsense is thus variousTherefore, the ambiguousandconflicting waysinidentifies that and she represents to map thesestory. her of plausibility of issue the isalso paradoxes part in this matter a primary simultaneously, survival and tinges of meanings For told. both in participation the is survival andamenace as a way prostitution tothis of offered that future. Therefore this account provides a thorough portrayal of the contradictory stories that Ay that stories contradictory of the portrayal athorough provides account this Therefore future. determinedstruggles for occurredandhow heroptions thesethe efforts athand andher prospects these that structure general the life, herlimited that conditions the across, she came risks that an account of her efforts in its entirety to survive both in the economical and social sense, the part examines the structural thatshapedAy examineseffects thestructural part is motiveWhilethis theprincipal hernarrative.she inthis Hence ‘contradiction’. recounts part IhaveInstead intoit smaller sections divided followinginterrelated chronological the that order strategies under scrutiny used byher toinhabit and contain such contradictions in her account. the aswell as of contradictions features the miss different and the her account out leveling splithave conceivable.bigininto I turn mean preferrednotto since part this chapters thiswould explanations presented by Ay by presented explanations A helpful and necessary introductory note would be to clarify that a substantial that clarify to be would note introductory necessary and A helpful Following these initial arguments, Part II of this thesis aims to investigate how the how investigate to aims thesis this of II Part arguments, initial these Following ú e for her involvement in sex work can be made to make sense and sense make to made be can work in sex involvement her for e 5 ú e’s involvement in prostitution, it offers also in prostitution, e’s involvement ú e CEU eTD Collection of time today. course her present affect narrative that her of cornerstones today the with throughout andcovers rapein 1976 from herstart study childhood in covered this today. voice The events her political in expression stark its finds point This men. certain for women certain marginalize and sustain unfortunately socially andbodily experience strandsideologies the of dominantthe confirm, that 4 [...]”. frameworks those of contingency inherent [the] show [therefore] and “society,” of frameworks framework,possibilities overflows openedbyasedimentedsocial institutionalized the 3 London: Routledge. Pp.: 10 2 in Ay narrativethe of represented antagonism prostitution of might have on prostitutesin thatengagementincomplete analysisemployment sexwork effects causes an potential the of salaried of kind other any as “work” of understanding in commonsensical the rather or activity reference to sociallypayment.” Thelegitimate simple Finstad Hoigard and assumption workers. that prostitution O’Neill for example, In my view, is the samethe self-evident. Thisandas approach sex it to reduces with work relates simply only selling sex. Thus, socialany other kind of economic Barnard still of its and treatment 1996)the as prostitution conceptualizations takes descriptions 1992, cultural awareness historical to Scambler and specificity McKeganey 1997, (Roberts and increasing Secondly, within the (Scambler, specific location its 1997). understood despite fact that prostitution is not acultural or transhistorical and that any investigation should be criminological and sociological frameworks highlight two points. The first one is to recognize the ErnestoLaclau. (1994). Hoigard, C. and L. Finstad . (1992). O’Neill, M. (1997). Prostitute Women Now. In G. Scambler and A. Scambler (Ed.), 4 The kind of Thein of kind antagonismsocial she wentthrough observe senseenabledher andthis to 2 3 describes prostitution as ‘the exchange of money for sex’. In the same way describe prostitution as “buying and selling sexual sellingservices forcash and “buying sexual describeprostitution as The Making of Political Identities Backstreets: Prostitution, Money and Love 6 (pp. 1-8). Great Britain: Verso. ú e Tükrükçü “exceedsthe repetitive e Tükrükçü . London: Polity. Pp.: 8 Rethinking Prostitution CEU eTD Collection 6 Alper Uru 5 experience. the in naturalizes turn and of research object the of theexperience whichreifies mereevidence as experience consider to predisposition thewidespread mentions “Experience” article inherwell-known Joan Scott, further questioning. of without experience the in naturalization the case, this would that result would assign authenticity her to story contextualizingwithout and sex work the interviewee. text- herlifeautobiographical of as aform history about my interviews autobiography –here yet question The classicalaccuracy).of realismnotthe perception calling into her of (but story lives, the problems, and conflicts constrains theygothrough. In casethe Ay of questioning,it also starts to lose its generative grounds tosee how subjectsmake sense of their further without inin is,its itspractice that occurrence as actuality, in orself-evident, work given were recordedin form the fieldof notes. meetings documentary The other by me. been asashort edited has and other the audio-record meetings between between meetings 22 historical interviews with Iconducted that herin July-August 2008as well informal as numerous life- through in-depth, semi-structured, 6 Igainedwascollected meaningful. end, data To this the is regarded in prostitution engagement the in which milieu symbolic the and personal the 2) 1) gives information structural the workingabout womeneffects on individuallysex worker and Scott, J. W., & Butler, J. (Eds.). (1992). Experience. In See, her semi-fictionalized autobiography by a male journalist, ú . (2008). In general terms, when the research on prostitution starts to analyze and define sex define and analyze to starts prostitution on research the when terms, general In An analysis of the narrative of an ex-sex worker requires a manner of inquiry inquiry that of requires amanner worker an of ex-sex An narrative of the analysis Hayats nd 2. Õ May 2008 and 1 May2008and z Kad HISTORICAL AND LEGAL BACKGROUND HISTORICAL ANDLEGAL Õ 2.1. n Ay ú METHODOLOGICAL FRAMEWORK e 6 . Detay Yay st September 2009. Out of these 6 interviews, one is an Õ nc ÕOÕ Feminists Theorize the Political 7 k. . New York and London: and York New . ú e, this requires 5 In CEU eTD Collection itself has a lot to choice do This with choices. personal judgments,on his/her based ethical acutely also is andhere political research values. the of object ofhis/her preference researcher’s The Routledge. reference to an authentic narrative. an authentic to reference in questions for two calls hernarrative of me. aspect This to she told that theexperience of all sentence, shehad signed under the notes I was taking in agesture to show that she was the owner her finished having meetings, our of one of end the at is, example simple One worker. sex ex- an as validity experience’ her on extent a great to relies and story her of authenticity the for Ay since approach requires adeconstructive thus narrative” “autobiographical as bringing final and in about sustained participation An analysisher prostitution. of narrated are which andprocesses aspects the matters, all the interviews refinefrom the simply to conventional understandingautobiographies, the of supposedduty of researcherthe be would the with by structured studies In narrative. her of plausibility the rather or authenticity of question upthe brings hernarrative of aspect contradictory the social circumstances, and material contradictory have sometimes and both even times at or implausible or plausible - - Although we all as social actors narrate stories about our lives that are either And, how or to what extent can we consider Ay consider can we what extent to or how And, her? to really occurred what tells that story autobiographical withintext alinearity anddeveloping progressively unfolding a as lifecan herif extentan towhat we consider narrative so, Whether, analyzing reality the lifeherof an within unmediated account? actor- as a self-consistent and self-present individual capable of giving and 8 ú e -as well as any other social other any as e -aswell ú e takes full credite takes CEU eTD Collection 8 Also at Auto/biographical Occasions 9 Methods in Social Science:Comparative Issues and Examples and Swindells inside. Swindells and in an in question, instance the of arenarration therefore by and went what of remembering is a storytelling every that considering herself, of reflection mirror a or representation current way current things.”of seeing see describe or in worldthe itsee: wejust comes tousand us always through mediated by the istext independent innocent, of certain theoretical, conceptual frames.and textual Nothing we this point: anddoubted brought intoinspection for further analysis. below The quote from illustrates Roos as written narratives as by spoken aboutor autobiographical livestexts their authors their is Paradise of Autobiographies.’ ParadiseTrue of critiques have been so established that Roos defines them as bringing about a ‘Fall from the process are of specific significance to this turn for the critiques of these assumptions. These is representations mirror ‘lifethe the of aslived’ andthat alinear autobiographical the description further, deconstructed and opened in differentways. Such approaches as thatautobiographies are be analyzed in enablespoint to Thismove this turn moreto. attention andpaid reconsidered issuehasbeen as narratives an within of contradictions accommodation Above all, the have narratives with been in ‘biographical drastically the reconceptualized turn social sciences.’ analyzed as tricky constructed social by products the rules of genre.the Autobiographical 7 Studies on the genre of autobiography 10 Michael Rustin. (n.d.). Reflections on the Biographical Turn in Social Science. In Roos,(1994) J. ‘The true life revisited: autobiography and referentiality “posts”’,the after Julia Swindells. (1995). Ibid.:3 http://www.valt.helsinki.fi/staff/jproos/context.htm “Upon leaving the Paradiseof it Autobiographies, was seen True thatno(revealed) Finally, although Ay Finally,although The Uses of Autobiography , vol.3, nos 1–2, pp.1–16. 10 9 Thus, all aspects of the commonsensical notions of the ú e treats her asthough itise treats autobiography plain the 7 presents a redefinition of autobiography in whichitis . London : Taylor and Francis. See, Unsworth, Joannou, Jolly 9 (Downloaded on 6.6.2008) (pp.33-53). London: Routledge. The Turn to Biographical Lives Lives and Works: 8 CEU eTD Collection part will set the stage for the above-mentioned analysis inquestion. analysis for theabove-mentioned will stage part setthe herself. of assessment non-prostitute women) who women) non-prostitute always been the prosperous center for entertaining in Istanbul. in entertaining for center prosperous the been always 14 13 clients, autobiographical narrative, Ay narrative, autobiographical and also assumes constantly she an positioninobject herstories.is That say, into her she conveys that accounts of the center necessarily the herself,she isnot of her representation isinas place otherThisapproach people. some in to relation herexperiences set of personal 12 Intersubjectivity, Subject Person. and 11 approach. intersubjective hermove follow autobiography in an thesis, Iwill attempt approachto to beyondarealistic this substantial amount of wereacknowledged be of regular sexworkers substantial amount the “non-Muslim.” to Thus begins from 19 the Within rangethe of thesis,this firstly I will seekto provide a short overview. Myinvestigation Galata and Taksim and Galata of the 19 On the European side of the Bosporus, Galata and Taksim are districts of Istanbul situated in Beyo in situated of Istanbul districts are Taksim and Galata Bosporus, ofthe side European Onthe interview. of the transcription The Appendix. See, For a philosophical account on intersubjectivity, See, Hans-Georg Gadamer. (2000). Subjectivity and Subjectivity (2000). Gadamer. Hans-Georg See, intersubjectivity, on account a philosophical For Vekil is the second auhority in a brothel who helps the brothel owner. vekils th century, prostitution was concentrated in Istanbul in particular. In the districts called districts the In inparticular. in Istanbul concentrated was prostitution century, The next isahistorical section andin legalbackground prostitution of Turkey.This A definitefor isinhard the beginning bemarked. pointsex Turkey of to work Today’s modern in Turkey originated 1923 after the World War I.Until middle the , 12 the brothel owners, cops, friends etc. but above all above but etc. friends cops, owners, brothel the th 14 century Ottoman Empire. Ottoman century today, the crime rates related to sex work were very high. At the time, a 11 By intersubjective, I mean that in mean Ay I By that intersubjective, are a significant dynamic for comparison for Ay for comparison are asignificant dynamic Continental Philosophy Review ú e constructs herself always in relation to others: herfamily, others: to in herself relation always e constructs 2.2. Historical Background Historical 10 , 33 , 275-87. ú e’s case, itis e’s case, most time of the a normal women ú 13 e inher own ÷ lu and have and lu (as she calls she (as CEU eTD Collection 22 21 20 19 Bilgilendirme Dosyas 18 17 16 12.000 work as prostitutes which12.000 workasprostitutes whoare under medical articleare the “women to requirements 15.000 worklegally. are3000registeredhouses, sex Andabout 56general the workers. In there Excluding foreignExcluding sex workers is30.000 in people in approximately about 100.000 Istanbul andcorrespondingly. Turkey and transgendered with together women Küntay Çokar, and to according local sexworkers, for truck drivers on highways or armed regiments as well as big cities. 15 activities. their prevent to held were police raids of Beyo While infact spreading poverty and booming theentertainment particularly in sector the districts Soviet women as well as local women intosex work with the First World I, things started to alter. at more time the andmore present carriers. increasingly When countries occupying the pushed disease main the as them stigmatizing way, systematic in a began prostitutes of marginalization diseasessexually transmitted wassetupin with (STD) 1915. Together the act, this Diseases of Veneral Prevention state brothels. When syphilis began tospread in Istanbul around the same time, the Bylaw for the legal the meant which houses”, “general called brothels in the legalized was prostitution century, wasformallyan illicit 19 lastpartof the 1845 andthe activity.sex work In acknowledged Ibid. Of these estimated 3,000, 132 work in Istanbul. Ibid. Pp.: 29. Ibid. Pp.: 12, 27. Küntay, E., & Çokar, M. (Eds.). (2007). Nizamnamesi Sirayeti Men-i Zühreviyenin Emraz-i ø Scognamillo, G. (1994). stanbul Ahlak Zabitas ÷ lu and Galata in Istanbul, Sex work currently flourishes in touristic neighborhoods close to stopping locations Õ ., Vol. 8). Õ . Beyo ÷ ø lu'nda Fuhu stanbul. Pp: 12, 23 21 17 and men, an estimated number of number85.000 of andmen,anestimated was andaspecial approved for fightestablishment the against 18 the war was the main reason in this initial stage. initial in this reason main the was war the Seks Ticareti [Sex Trade] [Sex Seks Ticareti ú [Sex in Beyo 11 15 ÷ lu] The Istanbul Vice Force Vice Istanbul The . Istanbul. (Cinsel E (Cinsel ÷ itim Tedavi ve Ara Tedavi itim 19 The probable number of 22 16 work illicitly. work Only was established in established was úWÕ rma Derne rma ÷ i. 20 th CEU eTD Collection 27 26 25 24 infocus andexaminetheviolence gendered rooted framework asastartingthis point. the state brothels. Therefore, I attempt toput the legal framework relating to prostitution into the in of sexworkers lives the in exceptional andgenerating actors acts institutional of functions the the on concentrate mostly will I police. the and owners, brothel the as such actors official as aswell institutions state numerous and brothels state in the prostitutes between exchanges the regarding prostitution in Turkey will be scrutinized. legal beframework the brothels inoutlined, can state the sex workers the circumstances of living and working material the before Thus, workers. sex local illicit and employed order to fix atime andplacefor dating. called “tele-girls.” called the so- of nowconsist sex workers of number arising new technologies, to regards with changes small number work of women are permitted in to Affectedbytheglobal “general houses.” the prostitutes, for streets or the cars, clubs,hotels, forests, massage-parlors, bars, 23 applied.” Scognamillo, G. (1994). Tele-Kiz in Turkish Ibid. Pp: 29 Randevu Evleri Sa ÷OÕ k tedbirleri uygulanacak kad 23 The estimated statistics presented pointed to differences between between officially pointed todifferences presented statistics The estimated Henceforth, I will endeavor to make clear the cruel practices that are structured by are structured that make cruel practices the clear to Iwill endeavor Henceforth, Most of unlawful work places consist of personal apartments, “dating houses”, “dating apartments, personal of consist places work Most of unlawful 26 These sex workers are contacted by mobile their phones by the customers in Beyo ÷ lu'nda Fuhu Õ nlar. (Article 23, General Houses Act) ú 27 [Sex inBeyo 12 ÷ lu]. Istanbul.Pp.: 68 25 since only a 24 CEU eTD Collection www.mevzuat.adalet.gov.tr/html/5189.html Zuhrevi Hastal 28 32 The workers. sex as aswell work sex of limitations spatial the extent and of work. and placefakedwelling name, and her placeofbirth, of herwork address name,date woman’s This sexthe for newIDcardstates special by workers. detailed IDcard substituted another woman is given a “license” houses” of andthedeployment obligatory the registration processes. In regulation,this a when into the legal“general “prostitutes” acknowledged forcing of meantthe any without change. This regulations sexwork the Empire procedures Ottoman the 1923, the regarding regulation on sex today in work With establishmentthe of Turkey. in newthe Turkish Republic (Conversation with Ay 31 30 29 a and women these between relationships up the set also but brothels, the to workers sex woman These donotonly work asprostitutes. connect allowed andlegallyIDs formally to and get against Prostitution (CFAP) Fight called commission a by made decisions the following department police the by workers Houses, General and Sexually Diseases Transmitted Through Prostitution and the Conditions Regulating Prostitutes Againstfunctional Spreadof haveinThe Lawthe been which regarding Turkey. prostitution Genel Kad Genel Fuhu Apparently, this practice has beenwidely abolished in Istanbul, while it is still common in othercities In the legal framework not 'sex work' (seks i Vesika ú la Mücadele Komisyonu Mücadele la Õ nlar ve Genelevlerin Tabi Olacaklar Tabi ve Genelevlerin nlar Õ 31 klarla Mücadele Tüzü To be more specific, the vital point about this license called this about vital morebe the point specific, To The following accountwill andmakedetermine set clearthe of rules and regulations ú e Tükrükçü 5/2008) 28 (as calledin the following, the General Houses Act) have been the chief 32 30 . In the consequence of this process, women get legally get women of this process, . In consequence the as a sex worker, her standard official ID card is taken away and ÷ ü 2.3. (downloaded on 05.06.2009) ú The LegalFramework cili Õ Hukumler ve Fuhu Hukumler ÷ i) but 'prostitution' 13 ú Yuzunden Bula Yuzunden ú an vesika vesika 29 is given to sex wereadopted is agreat to registered CEU eTD Collection 36 Bilgilendirme Dosyas 35 34 edilmemi 33 yearsold.twenty-one under or commission” by the approved been not have who “women the under are who brothels for a while but also includes all women. The law firmly asserts that: away taken are IDs whose workers sex woman the only not for valid is regulation This brothel. a into get to right the allowed is not she is checked, ID woman’s each brothel, the to entry enter the brothel as she does womanthe well.gets permitted During thisduration, sheisnot work to andallowed sheis not to not have her ID. If a womanmonths take blood tests.does If the doctorsnot detect a venerealhave disease, theyan seizeID, the ID and keepsinceregular it till at every health check,for the aweek licensed, twice are Once they IDs. women’s the on areregistered consultations the sex workers have of Theresults these with checks doctors. health is for obligatory example, the enforced, to visit the hospital of group state authorities assigned by One relationsthe established commission. of this and as well as once in every three Turkey Turkey until today. in hasbeenThis law 1973 regulation in wasadjusted for main thecontrol the and of prostitution 1933. Lawthe of Strugglethe with Prostitution andProstitution VenerealDiseasesSpreadthrough of As issue. of with in Prostitution Law Struggle the considered amoral the and health Ibid. Pp.: 12, 28 Küntay, E.,& Çokar, M. (Eds.). (2007). Fuhu Article – 62 Genel ev sahiplerininyirmibir ya 35 ú la Mücadele Hakk Mücadele la The second one was in effect until 1961, when the General Houses Act came into use. into Actcame General until when Houses the Thesecond wasin1961, one effect ú kad Õ nlar Article 62 – It is prohibited for brothel owners to consent to women or girls to their The main aim of the regulations has been to manage and restrain sex work sex restrain and manage to been has regulations the of aim main The The General Houses Act initially agrees on a special commission for its for commission special a on agrees initially Act Houses General The Õ her ne suretle olursa olsun evlerine kabul etmeleri yasakt Õ ., Vol. 8). 36 33 Õ nda Tamim nda ø stanbul. Pp: 12 Seks Ticareti úÕQÕ [Sex Trade] (Cinsel E 14 bitirmemi ú olankad Õ ÷ r itim Tedavi ve Ara Õ n veyan k Õ zlarla, komisyonca tescil úWÕ rma Derne 34 of of 1930 or ÷ i. CEU eTD Collection 38 42 41 40 fuhu (“Fuhu alone).” prostitution in engages one where (House called are prostitution in engagement the for use and residence 39 43 Bilgilendirme Dosyas Bilgilendirme Dosyas 37 Code, Penal Turkish the of 227 number in article places, official of management the from bannedbetting, noise are and inlegal places amusement housesAct).Aside 83,General (Article Prostitution. against Fight the for Commission the management: under the article “women to whom medical requirements areapplied.” whom medical underto articlerequirements “women the between for women 21is ageof the particularly (Articlelegal 18 to 21)The alternative toregister woman, than older tobecome andof Turkish21, single citizenship anauthorized sex worker. be a to has law. One by the determined asrequirements aswell limitations are anumberof illegal. is poncing or work sex of facilitation or helping of form now. until inpractice been not has alternative This theory. alone” inprostitution “Flats whereoneisinvolved 17). (article union” “places of 16)and (article houses” “general following: of composed the and giving permission to the opening of health thechecks (article 25-41), andplaces the cases of theclosing ofillicitbrothels as wellwhere as the opening sex work is allowed. beginningThese of regular 22),the (article registration sexworkers’ of decisionsregarding the the places are menaces to the public order from article14. 1 to of the control of the sex work and fight systematically against the spread of STDs and any Küntay, E., & Çokar, M. (Eds.). (2007). Küntay, E., & Çokar, M. (Eds.). (2007). Ibid. Pp.: 28,30 Tek ba Tek Sa Fuhu http://www.tbmm.gov.tr/kanunlar/k5237.html ú ÷OÕ yap ú k tedbirleri uygulanacak kad ú u tek ba la Mucadele Komisyonu Mucadele la úÕ Õ lan ev) denir.” (Article 18, General Houses Act) na fuhu na For the registration of prostitutes who want to work in the mentioned places, there places, mentioned inthe work to want who prostitutes of registration the For úÕ na yapan kad ú yap Õ Õ ., Vol. 8). ., Vol. 8). Õ lan evler; definition: “Places that women, who engage in prostitution alone, make their make alone, prostitution in engage who women, that “Places definition: evler; lan Õ nlar ø ø stanbul. Pp.: 28(Article 4, General Houses Act) stanbul. Pp.: 28 Õ Õ n ikametgah edinip icinde fuhu nlar Seks Ticareti Seks Ticareti (downloaded 06.06.2009)on [Sex Trade] (Cinsel E [Sex Trade] (Cinsel E 15 38 For the most part, the Commission isin charge 39 (article 18) can form an alternative only in only alternative an form can 18) (article ú yapmay 40 Thealcohol consumption, drugs, Õ itiyatettikleri yerlere (Tek ba 37 ÷ ÷ itim Tedavi ve Ara itim Tedavi ve Ara This isin commission charge 43 However, this article this However, úWÕ úWÕ rmaDerne rmaDerne úÕ na 41 ÷ ÷ any i. i. 42 CEU eTD Collection 47 46 45 44 houses.” in“general work to consent not does work sowork far. the However, biggest partof sex is work by means illegalized.this legal These for prerequisites the lawsof setprostitutes. of registration curb sex havemanaged to legal legislationthe “general spatiallysex to houses”confines work and provides preventive mandatory tests, but since itis not regarded a crime, they are not punished judicially. Tobe brief, for and Hospital the the IstanbulDermatology VenerealDisease andsex usually taken to work working illicitly banned Women criminalized. assexworkers from are when performing caught if check authorities madeevery inspections the weeks are missed.two health any hertothe at time take and documents The policemay checkasexworker’s Act). foreachinspection identification astamp (ArticleHouses card inwhichthey obtain 26,General their health checks, the sex workers obtain a certificate of examination as well as their special infection has recovered. infection untilallowedisnot work sheis infected, Health. shows to asex worker that inspection the If DiseaseHospital. Venereal and Dermatology at Istanbul the workers sex illicitly employed with made together are areapplied” requirements Authorities. at City Health the out carried are in Istanbul “general houses” at in of employment sex workers tests The correspondingly. days ten onceinevery or times aweek, two health checks compulsory on aredependent workers Ibid. Pp.: 28 Ibid. Pp.: 22, Pp.: Ibid. Buyuk Ibid. ú ehir Belediyesi Sa The above presentation of the Turkish legal framework has illustrated that the The position who issex workers of areunregistered yet madeillegal,not “Women to whom medical requirements are applied” and all the recorded sex ø stanbul Lepra Deri ve Zuhrevi Hastal ve Zuhrevi Deri Lepra stanbul ÷OÕ 47 (Article 35, General Houses Act) For the authorities tobe able toverify k øú leri Dairesi Õ klar Hastanesi klar 45 44 46 The tests of those “women to whom medical (Article 23, General Houses Act) 16 This hospital is governed under the Ministry of CEU eTD Collection 52 50 48 53 Bilgilendirme Dosyas 51 Istanbul. Pp.: 21 49 that prostitutes may prostitutes that licenseget their criminal the deleted, lawyer Abdurrahman Tanr Bilgilendirme Dosyas service. state official in the employment for apply they their close relatives,for instance their siblings or children as well as the women themselves when apolice. or soldier professional the whole familystigmatization and socialof marginalization, a the registrationsex also brings along unjustworker, processes for official for rights example as simpleAy asthe the openingkids of ofa banka sexaccount worker or even marrying. may not In additionbecome to the a image andvictimized prostitute. institutionalizedinto against isunavoidably this sex workers discrimination her thus turning Turkish the totheindecentrelated imagecontext of prostitute. fallen the The and trapped Ay of part the on connotations cultural heavy has therefore “license” a with card morals and virtues of decency and chastity by losing hervirginity. “honorless” the of representation discrimination and overall condemnation workers.Thisof cultural sex theme isbuilt on the workers as“bad woman” workers citizens. Cultural structures sex of related andprejudice to workers images dominant of sex the citizenship of rights registeredthe sex in workers Turkey vary from of drastically those other Küntay,E., & Erginsoy,G. (2005). Küntay, E., & Çokar, M. (Eds.). (2007). Ibid. www.womensenews.org/article.cfm?aid=3240 Ibid. 29 Küntay, E.,& Çokar, M. (Eds.). (2007). ú e’s narrative since mostshe is and of denied prohibitedfrom her citizenship rights, numerous Being “labeled for life” Being Õ Õ ., Vol. 8). ., Vol. 8). ø ø 48 stanbul. Pp.: 30 stanbul. Pp.: 29 play an active part in further stigmatization, institutionalized play in stigmatization, part further an active ø stanbul'da On Sekiz Ya 52 49 Therefore, the police registration might be exploited against be exploited might registration police the Therefore, Seks Ticareti [Sex Trade] Seks Ticareti Trade][Sex prostitute who has once and for ever broken with the all 51 ( damga 17 in Turkish) is also another dominant theme in theme dominant another is also inTurkish) úÕ ndan Küçük Ticari 'Seks 53 (Cinsel E (Cinsel (Cinsel E (Cinsel Although it is an official right in theory right official an is it Although ÷ ÷ itim Tedavi ve Ara Tedavi itim itim Tedavi ve Ara Tedavi itim 50 The exchange of the identity the of exchange The øú çisi' K Õ z Çocuklar. úWÕ úWÕ ú e as well as in as well as e rma Derne rma rma Derne rma Õ verdi, who ÷ ÷ i. i. CEU eTD Collection 55 Bilgilendirme Dosyas victimizing and isolating approaches towards sex andvictimizing isolating towards workers. approaches Turkey as well as in most other nationwide contexts, therefore, stigmatization shows itself both in 54 brothelsprevent butalso fromprostitutes to theentering publicspace as unrestrained well. they want not only to keave the city, but also to leave the brothel as well. when police station apply atthe to have still sexworkers the for apermission, cities, in Anatolian limited.Ay extent a great is to within the brothel system. the outside world to follow (conversationengagement. Hence,it with remarkably enter 26.8.2008). gets Tükrükçü difficult to another employment again as when heremployers outof regards herprevious since shefoundsex work out dropped as soon as a sex worker hasbeen unsuccessful. registrations deleted gets employed mentionsthe athavinghis since attempts that sexworkers 1995, has around ten represented speech before the main brothel in Istanbul with another independent candidate Saliha Ermez, who Ermez, Saliha candidate independent another with inIstanbul brothel main the before speech July 22 election the general July 2007,before of Küntay, E., & Çokar, M. (Eds.). (2007). www.womensenews.org/article.cfm?aid=3240 The evident aim then is not only to veil prostitution from the public sight in the sight public the from prostitution veil to only not is then aim evident The Additionally, except for Istanbul, the registered sex workers’ freedom of movement My initial access Ay to Õ ., Vol. 8). ø stanbul. Pp.: 30 ú e recounts that sex workers in Istanbul can go home at night. Yet night. home at go can in Istanbul thatsexworkers e recounts Seks Ticareti Trade][Sex ú 2.4. e was through my e was inthrough participation her in campaign election (downloaded 9.6.2009)on Entering theField Entering 54 Ay 18 ú e also mentions that she lost a number of jobs of a number lost she that mentions also e nd , 2007. Basically, she was going to make a wasgoing to Basically, she , 2007. (Cinsel E (Cinsel ÷ itim Tedavi ve Ara Tedavi itim úWÕ rma Derne rma ÷ 55 i. In CEU eTD Collection normally the office of the NGO Ay some feminist women. We had gathered at the election bureau of WeAy election at the bureausome feminist women. hadgathered of Court that her application to take part in the election was accepted. In the group With Ay With group the In was accepted. in election part the take to her application that Court of her sex registration,itwork was only Ay after Because candidates. asindependent inelections weretaking general part the workers female sex two that modern Turkey of history time inthe first This wasthe from each other. votes take not independent candidates from two different election parts of the city of Istanbul so that they would Ay general were runningindependent as candidates in the election. Thus politicalthe initiation of in candidates these parliament, the outside kept pushedand is thus political the representation of andabigpercentage political for the parties enter theparliament to is a10%quota For there run in wereabigyear,The samethere to candidates number elections. independentthe of other given an award by authority. revenue the years in thetop payertax duringrespective 1990’s,Matild Manukyan the was Istanbul. brothels in Karakoy, an Armenian descent Turkish citizen woman called Matild Manukyan. For5 every day. This brothel is alsofamous because one of its past owners who owned many of these especially on by Sundays soldiers whoare off their duties,this hundreds brothelattracts ofmen weekends and Istanbul ofbig duringteams, times transportations, personnel scalemilitary between games soccer big holidays, religious and national inthe Especially inIstanbul. brothel official only the as known much very is brothel This Brothel. Karaköy the day, that visited 56 was also an ex-sex worker. 57 http://www.hurhaber.com/news_detail.php?id=62570&uniq_id=1228463914 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matild_Manukyan ú e and Saliha could be considered part of a bigger political attempt. Ay That year, these two candidates had gathered the support of feministyear,variousof had candidates That the groups. support gathered two these 56 She had worked 11 years as a sex worker including the one being one includingthe years 11asasexworker She hadworked ú e has taken part since she quit sex work that helps mainly (downloaded on 6.6.2009) 19 ú e Tükrükçühad pleaded tothe High Election (downloaded on 6.6.2009) ú ú e Tükrükçü. This This was e Tükrükçü. e and Saliha were also 57 She was ú e were CEU eTD Collection her rights to motherhood by the state.” When we came to the brothel, a narrow street paved with paved street narrow a brothel, the to came we When state.” the by motherhood to rights her abortions, after the last of which her womb had to be removed.buying care dressesand of her,taking good baby-doll.this thisbaby-doll To hersymbolizes 8 To her again, this is “the theft of baby-doll inbaby-doll Ay The time. atthe parties political the of campaigns the of various types the to used were already them, on pictures and slogans their with babywas in andboth her arms of areal-size T-shirts carrying were wearing doll candidates the in the future will be from among our little kids. Do not let other lives be stolen.” wearing awhite Aslong wedding gown. slavery as modern the is new notabolished,the victims of young dreams girl Every etc. a teacher, anengineer’ ‘I willbeadoctor, up!’ She says, grow I when prostitute a be will ‘I says, girl young No […] bottom. the at are who those of candidates from theleft.nor right We independent arethe neither the candidates independent “We are hands that said on them: 59 58 Ay bypassers For pamphlets the street. to waybrothel,this the handing out on our to wewere On streets of isIstanbul. crowded most itone of also andTherefore bars.the clubs, cafes night to walk towards the brothel. We had the leaflets of the campaign of Ay foreign female journalists. When everybody arrived and the time came for the speech, we started minefriend whowaswith The consisted group of group. the of 10womenaround and two homeless as assex women whowant quitwell workers to prostitution.invited Ihad been bya See, Appendix. See, Appendix. The street the election bureau was in is the downtown area of Istanbul with a lot of alot with area of Istanbul inisthedowntown bureau was election the The street ú e’s arms was given to her years ago as a present. Since then, Ay Since ago asa heryears then, present. e’s armswasgivento 59 this was quite a scene for the curious bypassers who 20 ú e and her colleague in our 58 ú e has kept ite haskept ú e CEU eTD Collection allowed to get theyin heregive us when fine theas nowregarded it Is box. registration poll the to go should whenthey that and choose to a right have they I IDssay ( I have my forgotten have not voice people ironwhohearthe now.I will our behindthis door them tell that of narrative: her aspects political the shows following excerpt Ay dojustice to to be difficultit would from day, that excerpt an of Without brothel.the door beforemake the to they speech their police officer, decided letinsidebrothel.with After campaign not until day,they anargument the election the were the Although the official candidates in thethat elections day are wasgranted to togo campaign inside anywherethis theup theyto bebrothelwish able to to enter and thevisit brothel) the Stillsex theworkers answer was there negative. and They ask were for planning their to votes.do worked there before. (Karaköy is not one of the brothels she worked in. I regard that Ay that in.I regard sheworked is brothels of the one not (Karaköy before. there worked Turkish) women inside.responded enter The can saying hadtwo they a enter from the door. blocks of flats with sex waitinginsideworkers Ay before and their doors. 10 than more its with street controlled police this to entrance&exit only is the This police. the by generalizations. Yet, forthe reasons ofwish. they as this, other checkpoint police interviewsof the goout not can they or into the elections livesthe in vote to of beable to these womenregistered would addresses be more accurate to make 60 brothel.the While Ay watch Some scene.Thejournalists stayedthe disappeared. to werealready before there waiting brothels tothe men outmuch houses,stones of pretty inand old door the with and crowding A thing that Ay “We encounter another obstacle again. They want us to forget these people. We people. these forget us to want They again. obstacle another “We encounter The police at the door rejected only door the that the them,The police saying at ú e tells about the registered sex workers inside the state brothels is that they eitherdo not get their ú e and Saliha werestanding before huge this gotgrey door the closeddoor, vesika ) but rights? asunthinkable when we askforam our I 21 vesika , but why not when I say I am an ú e’s narrative in general. The ingeneral. e’s narrative registered vesika ú e and Saliha insistede and to and that they had they that and (“vesikali” in (“vesikali” ú e made e 60 CEU eTD Collection çok önemli.” Buraya devlet vesikayla girmeye izin veriyor, ama 63 prostitution. 62 See, also my documentary on Ay yine bize engel ç engel bize yine desem al söyleyece sesimizi duyanlar 61 before us.” obstacle another We candidate? of aretryingindependent torevealone woundsof the Turkey and they bring “Independent Ay MPcandidates of in practice laws exercised the brothels. the Ay supports and shares politically and worldviews religious and conservative its for is known NGO This Ay when shelter and help her offer to person first the was Bulan Hayrettin NGO, the of head The how they are doing. Their support is very important for us.” allows me.exhausts in get Thestate us to our here with inbrothels“I 11years for and moment worked the even getin atsee here voters trying to to our the context of their political speech as well as how she felt there before the brothel. “Ben11 sene genelevde çal in involvement Ermez’s of Saliha because a police be to application in his down turned sonwas Ermez’s Saliha “Bize yeniden birengel ç ú e took part in a women’s television show speaking about her past and her life in brothels. ÕQÕUÕ ÷ im. Bize vesika im. verirken iyi de,hakk m da, aday ú The following excerpt from the same day by Saliha Ermez is alsoimportant to show With them were also the head of the NGO (Sefkat-Der) that Ay e and Saliha’s words. Hise andSaliha’swords. wordswereunderlying the differencein theory and Õ kar Õ biz unutmad Õ yorlar.” Õ m derken neden al Õ kar ÕúWÕ Õ ÕOÕ k. Onlara seçim haklar m, ve ú 61 yor.Bu insanlar e. (Min. 10:00) ú ú u anda seçmenimizle bulu e TükrükçüandSaliha Ermez, whosenamesareon ballots the Õ nm Õ yorum? Türkiye’ninbiryaras ÕPÕ]Õ Õ unutmam ú u anda girip hat ararken kötü mü?Ben Õ oldu 22 ÷ Õ z isteniyor. unu, sand ú mak için bile buraya beni girmek y Õ rlar vesika Õ÷ 63 ÕQÕ ù a gidip oy kullanmalar u anda bu demirkap soram ú but we can not go in now to ask ÕQÕ imdi buraya vesikaylagiri göz önüne sermeye çal Õ yoruz. Onlar Õ Õ n destekleri bizim için lar ú Õ gerekti e has worked in. Õ n ard 62 Õ prat ÕúÕ ú Õ ÷ nda bizim yapaca ini yoruz ve Õ yor. ÷Õ m CEU eTD Collection 66 bulundu seçmenleriyle bulu seçmenleriyle girebiliyorken,vesikal 65 Dan istedi 64 meetvoters.” havenot to their chance back the do have who women these place, this enter can men many young “We have seen today that the brothels are really places like prisons. Although rich or poor, old or difficulty of the deletion of the official registration of a sex worker. laws.” the andover against of the Committee of Human Rights Consultation under the Prime Ministry, I think that this is As flyersmembera want. wherever they out docampaigningand hand allowedare officially to go outside the building if she does not holdgo outside thebuildingifshe doesnot ahome buthastoremaininside.card, at Thepolice leavingshe thebuildinghomeshow her atnight,A getallowed should card. not woman to does is she When license. her show to has therefore a woman brothel, the entering is she While shifts. as well as escapes are prevented. 24 hours a day, apolice officer keeps this door on day and night the “point” power on women’s bodies byitsin acts use theofficial as isponce. Thisdoor practically named state’s of the nature about the lot tell a door from this starting regulations The one. intimidated change on Ay “Bugün gördük ki genelev gerçekten cezaevi gibi bir yer. Zengin-fakir, genç-ya “Ba Nokta Õú ÷ ma Kurulu üyesi olarak, hukuka uyulmad ÷Õ i her yerde seçim propagandas seçim yerde i her ms ÷ u gruplar ve ki Õ z milletvekili aday 66 by the sex workers according to Ay to according workers sex the by Finally, the statements of one of the feminists who were there that day underline the underline day that there were who feminists the of one of statements the Finally, When they were standing before the door, I was pretty by Iwaspretty impressedbefore sudden the When standing the door, they were ú ú e’s face, whichwasfrom e’s anda strong facean demanding to anxious and mak imkan mak Õ olan ve vesikalar ú iler olarakiler Ay Õ olan, oy pusulalar Õ na sahip de sahip na 64 Õ yapma ve el ilan veel yapma ú e ve Saliha’ya destek veriyoruz.” ÕQÕ ÷ gerivermek istedikleri gerihalde veremeyenkad iller. Biz Lambda, Morçat Lambda, Biz iller. Õ÷ÕQÕ Õ nda resmen isimleri yaz , hukukun üzerine ç Õ da 23 ÷Õ ú 65 tma hakk tma e. With this door, potential unlawful entrances unlawful potential door, this With e. Õ Õ na sahip. Ben Ba Ben sahip. na , Filmor, Van Kad Van , Filmor, ÕNÕ Õ ld lan Ay vesika Õ÷ÕQÕ dü ú úOÕ e Tükrükçü ve Saliha Ermez , and who want to give them give to want who and , ú , oraya bir çok erkek ünüyorum.” ú bakanl Õ n Derne n Õ nlar, kendi Õ k ø ÷ nsan Haklar nsan i’nin de içinde de i’nin Õ CEU eTD Collection thesis on her. on thesis more about the details of her life as an ex-sex would Inthisbook introducedgot tolearn students. tothe hermeans talk, of be I gathering; this worker. After the talk, I had decided formy atalkherex-school life. about Thiswasan activity students andorganized by bythe the to write my written fictionalizedbook autobiographical by waspublisheda journalist andshewas invited to research andresearch writing. Ay with acquaintance in my interest of moment initial and preliminary this to attachment empathetic My reassignment. as aspatial well process regulation amultifaceted through authorities by under control mechanism astrict They the put into “possessions” the are of state. the altered are bodies their workers, sex licensed become they when together, All take. officially once they claims over their bodies loosen up their prostitutes how testifies paradoxically process allthis The legality whole of and turn into the question propertiesgoingof depends aregistration outside on to mechanism again.andat the door control of the stateConversely,for their daily needs,practical sexworkersareallowed go to outside. Butthe in consequence of IDthe cards license at the door. the punters’ check the police a brothel.visitLikewise, Hence is illegal eighteen to ageof the person under non-woman prostitutes are also not allowed to enter a brothel. the ú e was in this sense amotivating factor in my overall analysis ofher till latestthe phase of my point check not only the women’s access and exits, but also those of the punters. A male The next time that I encountered Ay 3. IN THE FIELD IN THE 24 ú e was on May 22 nd 2008whenhersemi- CEU eTD Collection characterized by lack of possibilities, good fortune and choices starting with her account of of fortuneherher and account starting with good lack choices characterized by of possibilities, as one of survival. thesestories This recounts She brothel asaprostitute. in Mersin andstart as asexworker registration is howher in resulted shewhich fiancée her of plan understandsdisguised the lastly and father, her of especially parents her past and depictsengagement it today. in prostitution It is very that in part is this suggested inprostitution. It her engagement during after and to, are prior muchwas seen by her as the Iwillorder. dividenarrative her intooutcome 3phases inrelation herinvolvementin to sex work: these of her rape, the indifference of her plausible.depicted instead and they are accommodated formulated Yet, in hernarrative. or neverapproved explicitly are inconsistencies The plausibleheras anex-sexworker. past to related herrender accounts in and in paradoxes the ofher herare repressed prostitution contradictions participation efforts to analytical of projection this Aninvestigation thesis. of risks the byhersuggeststhat experienced inof and be inthe its own participation power prostitution will asseparately examined on lack of freedom material realities the as well and foras violence struggling and poverty between narratives in these she draws that connections endless The question. into becalled will narrative in prostitution. paradoxical incoherentand indeterminably explanations brought upbyAy examine is and in one other to the the engagement thoroughly are accommodated prostitution of aspects material conflicting the how analyze isto one reasons; for two onthem focuses is nottodetermine which particularly ledones involvement toherin it prostitution.rather But This part scrutinizes the events that stand out in her narrative in a chronological in a narrative her in out stand that events the scrutinizes part This her of coherence life, the her shaped that circumstances the analyzing Hence, by This chapter examines the climactic events that shaped Ay 25 ú e’s life. But the aim here ú e for herengagement CEU eTD Collection representation of women as well as maintains and supports the traditional place of the women in women the of place traditional the supports and maintains as well as women of representation political the avoid- literally not –if seconds that Turkey of government Islamic liberal current asthe aswell republic the of years early the from coming tradition state paternal the mean both I be bythemainstream ableto politics, open up this space.IntheTurkey, to caseof codes cultural dominant and politics mainstream the of tenets legitimate currently the on reliance well. as recognition political and social of terms in status her acertain gives also This position sources. financial material and accessto extent- forspeak her to today. enables victimhood The position of herget–though a very to to little of thisnarrative Ay that her aspect enables story how shevictimized washerof life throughout starting hermain with is rape.The argument tellsthe that victimhood” it of is “anarrative is that of her story aspect remarkable most the that emotional, and politicaleconomy personal herpart. Itison argued andwillbeshownin this part Ay victimhood. of narrative she does today is heras life way the of givea account the to since times at researcher for the issue a crucialbecomes painful part of the analytical projection events. the of theagent than victim rather in this thesis, she out pointed that, couldseenoalternativefalling to her this into she life and that was the that she is,explanations and narratives to memories, in her showBut engagement. her about tells she the stories the and shein that recollects betweenherengagement discontinuity prostitution exists a deep-seated prostitution and both prostitution once supported menaced Ay is innarrative that her paradox inevitable the time. Hence, for first the registration official Yet, the contradictory quality of this narrative that she draws today stems from her from stems today draws she that narrative this of quality contradictory the Yet, Throughout the followingitwill chapters, be noticeable authorial that intrusion ú e’s narrative is laden with of isladenwith as well e’s narrative stricttales an contradictory ú e to open up “a political, social and personal “ae toopensocial space” and personal up political, 26 ú e’s social e’s material social survival. Thus,attimes,and CEU eTD Collection 69 Istanbul Bilgi Press. Istanbul Mojab & N. Abdo (Ed.), 68 67 extramarital relationships. individual and women indefined conjugal andinterms caseof the unmarried women, of out political domain particularly inform the of familyas overvalorizing institution beforean the the home. And by the dominant cultural codes, Imean the cultural repercussions of this dominant society.” by masculinity set the femininity live thestandardsas and of to ability upto person the of way of behaviorsexual in contextof the Turkey. sexuality. brings in This themorally borderlineencoded between and socially proper improper women. For men, between distinction forbehaviors of especially the types sexual strong overothers certain standards itimposes on individualplay the role.a major in Inherent of code isthis behavior a the and honor level, individual the on also but sexuality, of behaviors particular culturally society.” the within individuals to etc.) hierarchy, social representation meaningwhich assigns (identity, value,location prestige, in in kinship, status the asystem and a semioticapparatus, is“a“Sex-genderof construct system” sociocultural system in Turkey enablesthat Ay sex-gender system. The word “honor” ( “honor” word The system. sex-gender system. The so-called “honor code” is a fundamental or rather the most significant element of this sex-gender this in determining important are power of relations patriarchal milieu, political Sirman N. (2004). Kinship, Politics and Love:in Honour Post-Colonial Contexts – The Case of Turkey.S. In DeLauretis, T.(1987). For adetailed account, See,Akkoç 2004,Arat 1997, Kad University Press. University 69 Not only in direct relation to the society in its entirety in terms of determining the determining of interms entirety its in society the to relation direct in only Not Therefore, to start sex-gender with,itthe specific todelineate be inplace would to Therefore, honor Violence in theName of Honour: Theoretical and Poltical Challenges Technologies of Gender: Essays on Theory,Film, and Fiction is mostly understood as proper social behavior rather than a matter matter of than a social behavior rather as proper is mostly understood 67 ú e toperform lifeher narrative as“a narrativeof victimhood.” namus 27 ) as a cultural concept in Turkey “connotes ) as inthe acultural “connotes Turkey concept ÕR÷ lu 2001. 68 In the Turkish cultural, social and (p. 5).Bloomington: Indiana (pp. 44). Istanbul: CEU eTD Collection 70 Türkiye’de Siyasi Dü the sexthe in work inTurkey general and herselfin particular. lies of lies of day presentthe andpolitics opens upthepolitically for ground legitimate Ay the and hypocrisy the illustrates and today heroism male the states, the of construction political called of protection womenthe of nation.the shethis point Yet, underlines deconstructs the statementthis level, surface can the On brothels). the in be (those women regardedtheir raping were who themselves as a valorizationprotect girls the andmothers wasgiven to independence of nation. the it Buttoday the was of war and the mentalityTurkish woman as motherthe of the nation in oneher accounts. She once asserted that behindthe war of it, that is, the so- Therefore, it is very striking to see how Ay how see to striking very is it Therefore, inherspeech. findsits repercussions modern Turkey of early days a themefrom republican the nation, the of mother the as woman Turkish decent and honorable the of myth The communities. in find theirimaginaries as well roots of Turkishparticular nation-state the of as certain profession of prostitution. of profession representationnarrative her aswell ofso-called properness acts inachain of results therefore narrative her in theme aprevalent as victimhood of of narrative The in prostitution. herselfinvolvement her about as the she broughtinto aset her whicheventually circumstances got early childhood; of unfortunate object rather than the subject of the culturally stigmatized what Ay what example. concrete Therefore, findsits woman andimproper of proper legitimized distinctions Ibid. and Sirman, N. (2002). Kad ú e claims is that she did not want to go over this borderline herself but that starting from starting that but herself borderline this go over to want not did she that is e claims In this context of the honor code, a proper woman is also mainly conceived in a Sirman in her articles her in Sirman In the specific case of Ay In the of case specific ú ünce (pp. 226-244).Istanbul: Õ nlar Õ n Milliyetin [Women’s Nation]. In T. Bora (Ed.), 70 mentions how the categories of honorable and dishonorable and honorable of categories the how mentions ø ú leti e Tükrükçü, this borderline between socially the thisborderline between e Tükrükçü, ú ú im Yay e applies this myth of the honorable and decent and honorable the of myth this e applies 28 Õ nlar Õ . Milliyetçilik: Modern ú e to criticizee to CEU eTD Collection life will illustrate how how Ay life illustrate will out of it. my In view, this is where the analysis related to Ay anothergenerate discourse oftheTurkish the samespaceto socialthe texture society. uses She Turkey. victimhood. She narratesas well this as childhood storyher in before, circumstances the of details particular in the By asserting relation victimhood. of duringnarrative toand the afterhonor codeherlegitimizing herinvolvementin isprostitution is what meantby openingthe of spacethe by herprostitution;and the sex-gender Ay Ay plausible. tomakeher excuse case legitimate culturally system in individuals in the family. Lack of familial protection, as Ay as protection, familial of Lack family. in the individuals headthe of astheprotective brothers older incertain cases father the or determines system also sex-gender existing the of constituent a significant as and Turkey of life in everyday prevalent concept social a as Honor prostitution. into her made eventually had instances these that remarks as well as her father for not protecting her or not paying enough care and attention to her and order of the entire society. Hence, for example, Ay wanting in terms of ethical standards as therefore women are regarded Prostitute woman. as asingleyetvirgin or marital relationship to set up a family life as well as presenting a peril to the and asserts andthem asserts as funneled circumstances gradually that her from her away options and This space that Ay This space that The beginning of Ay of beginning The ú e creates this narrative of victimhood today. victimhood this of narrative e creates ú e employs throughout hernarrativeby isenabled throughout legitimized e employs and ú e’s story is about certain familial circumstances. Ay circumstances. familial certain isabout story e’s 3.1. Family Issues 29 ú e in her narrative accuses ofher first husband ú e develops, what I call, a narrative of ú e’s employment of this honor code in code honor of this employment e’s ú ú e lies. Thefollowing account ofher e claims in her case, is therefore a is therefore case, in her e claims ú e recalls CEU eTD Collection there in those years. those in there from her accounts whether, when they were back, her grandmother did not feel or did not want to want not did or feel not did grandmother her back, were they when whether, accounts her from isclear It not times. several by uncle sheher 48-year-old raped that was house in theirthis stay him as andthey would cook help in them the house they forwould stay some time. Itwasduring In this car, heruncle had afriendwas who wounded by He a gunshot. was taking the girls with inanother car. town a to his daughter herher and took she gives, uncle account the According to grandmother. That is say,to her grandmother notdidbring out this rape issue at all as she had to. her of son the was uncle her that is issue striking One do. to used grandmother her and she that things the of memories the of accounts gives She grandmother. her with spent she time inis hernarrative the that today she happiestperiod speaksabout rapecase,the priorthe tothis being Therefore, event. this by affected deeply is story her of rest The her. from stolen was life intohopes forthefuture by in avictim her asradicallyaffecting theher whose same time turning her uncle not only aninstanceas of hasthat sheer victimhood still had deepemotional effects, but by of rape thisoccurrence describes time.that She at ageof 9 the wasat She raped byheruncle. During hergrandmotherher upon request. grandmother’s Ay thisgrandmother, stay with return to Turkey after 2 years’ incidenceisGermanyof herher shegivestakes an insecond her account and sisterto 1974.The stay and schooling havewouldnot bad things toturn allowed hewouldout andthat her.fatherhave protected Her in Germany to help and stayGermany inher narrative, 1971.In she if eventrecounts this not saying that hehad died he then, with her aging in ageof the 9 at channel inawater playing her while than older whowas5years brother her back accountunfortunate inTurkey.first she that is The tells ofaboutthisperiod thedrowning of 71 Initially,he takesonlyhiswife male two and kidstoGermanyand leavesAy prostitution.opportunities with towards They herfather’sGermanystart going in to 1969. Ay ú e was born in February 26 th , 1967 in Gaziantep, Turkey. Many Turkishworkers migrated to Germany to work 30 ú e andhersister ú e was 71 CEU eTD Collection as well as declare to her parents and to people as the same Ay for her. She makes herself the protagonist after an before and a marks therefore Herrape lost. ifshehas as anddepicts she regards and that of this afterwards, who she wants today to she alludes is, imagethat the that herself, image of unified of the as sort her rape before to claim for herself points out to the severity of the matter of domestic conflicts and fights that she recounts andfights thatshe out to of today. points matter conflicts recounts severity domesticthe of the incouple saw Ay newspaperthe that (Grandpa) butsaid this to her couple that knew parents it whereshewas not was, until the after Opa and (Grandma) Oma called she whom couple this with stays her know parents her let mentioning is Ay duringthisthat time, will be examined in the in important how hershowing relationship herfamily with stage. current came tothe This issue aftermath of her involvement fights andconflicts, toAy father’s violence her in prostitution.marry Germany 1990whenTurkey she are markedbycontinuous familial backto went to to to One went she when 1976 between of years The theparents. her with Germany to eventsback went she rape, her worth years.for same the yearof happened duringIn1976, andafter saw yetremained quiet had what she rapeand the induring room same the were her cousin she and her accounts, In narrative. her son and his family. It is therefore possible to say that Ay correct from beginning inhernarrative. If the we aretofindamomentin intrude her and to narrative start thus grandmother her of memorial longing her as such contradictions The back. were they bring upthechangein Ay things, it would be her grandmother’s choice for Ay choice be grandmother’s it her would things, She also reports physical violence from her father at the time. One of these instances in of vague rest attimesthe incoherent quite and The aftermath this rape remains of ú e. Because Ay e. ú e was missing e was and searched by her parents.This example ú e used tovisit elderlyAs German couple.an she didnot ú e wanted to go and for togo stay awhile heraunte wanted with when 31 ú e in the form e in form the is battering. This of period also ú e romanticizes and presents the period ú e to voice her rape over her married her voice herrapeover e to ú e that she was before her rape. CEU eTD Collection 72 becomes a matter amatter in becomes her narrative. the two to marry. Startingfrom here on, sexual cleanliness, chastity, honor as well as decency Ay each other. relationship. She explains it asarelationship in which twodidthe have not sexbut loved still notget intoShe anysexualadds, she only remembersand recounts did a single relationship. she Yet, on. so and pubs in restaurants, worked she that asserts She life. her lead to difficulties 9.6.2009) Also,Germany’s Second Doubts AboutIts Turkish Immigrants, http://hnn.us/articles/12640.html (downloaded on important in her narrative starting from her childhood from in years. her childhood narrative starting important her an play family conflicts family role initial these the and that her of herfrom accounts assert it from is inhome; to place madeherkeep away leaveit beatings that to herfather’s or home was Whetherit todate. was herrepercussions be struggle to her free years atteenage she that decided undergo to had they change cultural the to related she escapedhomefrom into work and and started pubs restaurants. that she recounts home continued, at violence asthe Yet, request. her parent’s upon shelter the for theevent, herwardshipshelter her When toleave wastakenfrom parents. 16, sheaccepted the accused of accept therapeand not did her As parents her parents. against pressed acharge Ay acknowledged theviolence, sheinwas put sheltera children’s whenshe wasaround 11.Until 16, beating. When the school administration informed of the authorities about this beating and Ay was while she was going to school. Her teacher had seen the black marks out of her father’s David Horrocks ,& Eva Kolinsky (Eds.). (1996). ú e stayed in children’s shelters. In this time, her rape case came into lightand shelter intothe case came her rape In this time, shelters. in children’s e stayed In Ay The Turkish families that went toGermany in those years are known for problems ú e asserts that her virginity had become a problem for her boyfriend’s family for family for herboyfriend’s that herhad become aproblem virginity e asserts ú e’s accounts, Ay ú e narrates this period away from home as a time of many Turkish Culture in German Society Today 32 72 and the problems of adaptation, whichhave . Berghahn Books. ú e CEU eTD Collection reason was her wish to call her husband and that her brother-in-law and mother-in-law did not let not did mother-in-law and brother-in-law her that and husband her call to wish her was reason herfalling adispute in during this family.the disputewhenher During husband was away,the home her noticeable from miscarriage beingand inhermother-in-law’s cultural very difference by her onemarked marriage as this her.She narrates on much pressure time.the therewas Thus remarkable againin her partof this story. Inthismarriage, asher husband was all foraway work marryand in to decided April 1990 when Turkey. she came The narrativeto victimization is of Ay is theseinstancesthatwecan trace only while fillingtheminthe German throughout embassy. It by making mistakesin onpurpose documentsthe that would enable feared that her father would do the same to her. Yet, Ay her.Yet, sameto the do father would her feared that that the two talked about the rape. Ay rape. the about talked two the that did the proposal. Heruncle haddiedyearswas two notuntil ago.It years 13 after thatin 1989 been much issuean of theway Ay that had it whether rather or handled been had issue rape the how of question the avoid to hard is It ù in streets. had stayed the upsandthe life inher downs since Ay shows thepresentvalid and strong relationship withher and still herparents on going despite all goTurkey her askedher to proposalofherbrother to cousin.and to open instance up the This parents her when is continued parents her to ties her that understand can one account only The engül, the daughter of in canbeseen accounts. these kinship of clearly her ties engül, present The uncle. daughter the ú e’s active participation, preferences and choices she and preferences e’s active participation, madechoices inher past. During her stay in Turkey, Ay inTurkey, stay her During Surprisingly enough, this cousin she was asked to propose for her brother was ignored. suppressed or are herfamily with her relations In hercontinuing accounts, ú ú ú e recounts thatthere were timese recounts thisshe during whilethat e says that her cousin her cousin that says e e depictsit.Strikingly in 1989Ay ú e met her first husband. The two kept their contact their kept two The husband. first her met e 33 ú e avoided her from coming to Germany from her to coming e avoided ù engül’s excuse was that she had she that was excuse engül’s ù engül comeengül Germany to to ú e went to Turkey e wenttoTurkey and CEU eTD Collection parents, which meant that a proposal was to follow. he was genuinely interestedflirting. As inshe it, puts followingthe 8months, Bahri mademake everything to her believe that in her. The two got engaged when he visited Ay met Bahri, wouldwho beherfuture pimp and accounts will be examinedmore in detail in the coming sections of study.this end up as stories of victimization in Ay ofvictimization end upasstories depictionlater ofhervictimization.abortionsher all Hermiscarriage andduringsex her work accusation nobody that allowed thisnatural wish and even caused herto lose her baby is her theunderlying inheraccountand candidate a mother of craving the of The impliednaturalness she eatplums more. cannot that any accounts Kutlay” saysinher and “Esat name baby this with to call Andhim.is it this during she that dispute hadfallen from stairs.the still She hercalls lost call herhusband toaskhim bring some her plums to andhadallowed thatbrother-in-law not her for women likeeat cravingunusualplum.are known to she sour the to hadtastes So, attempted pregnant the pregnancy, during is that here implication cultural The sour. something eating like say,is felthadThat to she wasover“plums”. fall from caused her hat stairs the to family dispute attention. When it comes 1993. Heraccount on is divorcethis to onebeingnot by of protected herhusband hisand lack of her miscarriage, this she had found workanddivorce some decided wasworking. after to Thetwo a inFebruary while event is still a major themeagain his followingabsence hismandatory military service. By timethe her husband came back, in her story. and work for absence husband’s his family, Thehusband’s in her fights miscarriage, her of because This was partly in her narrative. ended still is how this marriage clear not It herhusband. her call The time when her marriage started to come to an end was also the time when she when time the an wasalso come to end to started marriage her when The time ú e’s accounts. The nature of this victimization in her of The thisnature victimization e’s accounts. sell 34 her into sex work in the future. The two started ú e’s aunt with his CEU eTD Collection 76 woman prostitute that one can use to humiliate a man in Turkish. 75 74 73 In this she once recounted. interesting occasions of one the with coincides fate. This period her change to hard was it that also and on then from life of way her be would this that was time the was inMersininworking her 7 circumstances andin involvement is mentioning.prostitution worth This was period shewhen fk me, you fk your money!” only she owned. Some of dialoguesthe her with in punterswere this line.She“You said, donot which herbody andhersoul wasreachable between that herself within and a manage difference her situation accepting shehow avoided herself, shehow protected whowere there, sex workers you ornot, work nowyou areaprostitute!” “Whether was, work to refused she when Mersin in brothel the of owner the that things first the as protecting herhumanity and self-perception as shemeant tofrom verybeginning.the of One and maximizing herpimpand Bahri therefore benefits andminimizing the the expensesaswell and mental dangers, sitting and calculating the shares the calculating and sitting dangers, mental and bargainingThis meant from herself for avoiding theprice,protecting dangerous punters, physical exactly whatto she experienced? Now that she was in some way or other in, she had surviveto it. she correspond what what remembers lived extent?Does to she what or today actually narrates brothelsin 7state some and innercity within transfers a30-month-duration today? Is whatshe Gülseren is a woman’s name. awoman’s is Gülseren a calling as strong as words two are “Pezevenk”, inTurkish pimp, or Ponce pezevenksin! de sen orospuysam Ben Sen beni de From Ay ú e’s accounts. ÷ il paran Therefore, the only period that she mentions about herself as accepting her accepting as herself about mentions she that period only the Therefore, other than differently behaved she how of account an is brothels the inside tale Her What does Ay Õ sikiyosun! Hesaba Oturmak ú 74 e tell about her lifeinside thebrothels? How does shenarrate her life or “If I am a prostitute, you are a ponce!” th month month in Gülseren’s : To calculate the shares at a table. at a shares the calculate : To 3.2. Inside theBrothels Inside 35 73 76 – house. She says that what she thought at thought she what that says She house. hesaba oturmak 75 - with the brothel owner brothel the with - CEU eTD Collection woman continued to work in brothels after she quit sex work. In an account about Nuran, Ay Nuran, about account an In work. sex quit she after brothels in work to continued woman called This a54-year-oldNuran. sex of house, worker housekeeper the aboutthe hometown- in distinct. Shespeaks incidenceworker her herof asasex an third city Gaziantep–also is quite this aspect actors, social other nightwatches and housekeepers, sex workers, other with brothels the inside relations her In chance. in every in brothels her time about prostitution with irreconciliation this underlines She part. her on brothels of out get to circumstance of ceasing or bettering the economic failure of her life unless it enables or opens up the way to a anal sex with her punters. soldby herhusband the brothel.to Ay overall to the effect of her story. One of these stories is that of Aynur, amother of five, who were mostthe touching shethat events sawmurders. aswelllike suicides Thesestoriesor add in In her accounts, Ay German. Thisshe meant that could foreign punters and attract Turkish those immigrants easily. andshe that had whathe achieved saidthey andnot made could itout. hehim once said owner, reminding thatyearswhat had shevisited this later brothels. Sheasserts andshould be totry hardbe able to unlike and sex other workers make beable to itout of the persons in general. She explainsregard did not sexthe highlyworkers ratherresponsible or enoughfor theirlives, health, andas this instance as one of coming to an awareness that she could 77 bottom.” fortheir buy“panties were noteven to able there) workers sex (the they that manner in ademeaning said once owner the in, working was she that brothel “Siz k ÕoÕQÕ za donbile alamazs In Ay In speak could she that also was herself about thought she differences the of One ú ú e’s narrative yet, prostitution is never suggested as an assurance or as away as or asanassurance suggested isnever prostitution yet, narrative e’s e does not only mention the things that she herself experienced. She recounts ÕQÕ z!” ú e recounts Aynur’s story e recountsAynur’s story as she wasforced tohave only 36 77 This meant that the owner the that meant This ú e CEU eTD Collection 79 damat and that there is mutual respect and trust betweenthe two as in the form of kinship. The other words used are of relationship in question- here between the between here question- in relationship of Ahmet. Implied in distinction lies this between gesture her paying for body and having her soul saying he that was not largerbed inher room. Thisbed herwas ownbed in shewhich sleptnight. at Ay Ay identity. prostitute the of rejection conscious her and her with worked who actors or workers sex other from difference Ay inside Nuran sentence, Ay sentence, was a wearing Ay back phoned Alaattin 78 you they that sohard,beatyou would Ihave thenot brought sheher wasin that escape brothels 35yearsandhad for the andadded“If twice tried to I knew Ay girls and continued the beating and the persuasion in the room allotted for Ay the trousers, inthese clients for the waited prostitutes the where lounge the unlike the swimming suits lingerieor transparent they wear inside brothels.the When shein sat Turkish) are overtly loose and made of thick cotton fabric, far simply from being suggestive sold, she had asked for some traditional trousers to wear from Nuran. These trousers (“ asserted when that she in arrived brothel,this by taken her from pimp Eski This Ana ú ú ú e speaks of one of her long-term clients. In one of his visits, this client offered to usee tells both show story herthis insideto resistance brothels the underlineand also to her the e remembers thatwhen Nuran came totheroom helpto herface, with her washing she told , means “mother” inEnglish. “mother” means vekil mama called Bahri called etc. An incidence that occurred around this time constitutes another around example in this time point. occurred constitutes An incidence that ú e remembers saying, “You have escaped twice but you “Youhave your havee remembersbut saying, escaped twice soul forgotten Ana ú alvar in the lounge. As soon as Bahri arrived, he battered her other the he before As battered as Bahri arrived, soon in lounge. the alvar .” 79 eni After this incidence, she apologized from After for thisshe what incidence, from she apologized Nuran hadsaid. strong ú te ú . e’s pimp Bahri, who had just brought her there her brought just had who Bahri, pimp e’s Eni enough ú te (“Uncle” in English) is one of the words used inside brothels to name the type to getinto to that bed.Thiswould clientbe herfuturehusband vekil and pimp.the This word suggests that Bahri is older than Alaattin 37 ú alvar.” Upon alvar.” Upon hearing this 78 and told him that she ú ehir to ehir city this to beto ú vekil e to gete to the clients. of the brothel the of ú e responded ù alvar” in R÷ lum , CEU eTD Collection police officers rapedher. police officers 3 there and inthewilderness city of the her hotel out took of the owner the of sort a punishment, helped her herescape.Butitdidnot take long bebackbrought to brothel. caughtandAs tothe 80 role important an plays violence police Therefore worker. asasex firsttime for the her registered first one was in Mersin, the first brothel sheright. worked in. One of the was registered shewas address the confirm that needed to herand curiously at looked officer punters who visited the of how a criminal getreport to there shewent officewhen Ay registration the at experience her recounts She involvement. previous her about learn to got employers her after immediately employment. Ay accounts of job difficulty the finding justof aregular becauseher of sex own worker conflicts with 1) herown current financial situation and herlack ofsocial insurance her2) account her Yet, own. her on herself finance to able being not brothels the to back returned who workers sex heracquaintance oneof was mentioned she friend The sure. for necessities it from butadding of financial was liked that out documentary) money”(Quotation whothe easy butearningmoney”but not hers’: friendher own “easystill on a friend on part “Shewasa of cities’ brothels. in nearby lotof the sensation ithadhigh causeda that was so brothel the of cashierthe paid at paid each staytime to longer herin with hisfrequent In visits. one ofhis visits, the amount he Ay in narrative. her as she recounts See, the documentary Ay on documentary the See, During this time, she attempted to escape from the brothels as well. Of these, the of way a as prostitution implied she once only prostitution, of portrayal her In ú e herself thatremarks shehaslost numerous jobs since she quit sex work, 80 ú e Tukrukcu Ay ú e accuses one of these police officers of being the first officer who ú e also tells in detail the amount of the extra money Ahmet of extra amount the the indetail e alsotells 38 ú e CEU eTD Collection The two stayed together for awhile. In her accounts, Ay Ay aswell.see other each continued to Bahri was taking a substantial amount of money from the owner. Here Ahmet and Ay and Ahmet Here owner. the from money of amount a substantial taking was Bahri of her regular client Ahmet so that the two would not be able to see each other. At each brothel, anxiousmeeting about or being recognized bysomebody she that had sex with. order not to get recognized. In her accounts today, Ay notgetrecognized. today, order to Inheraccounts in cut hair herhad she brothel, in Gaziantep as shestarted as soon Therefore, a relative. or friend avoid herfrom escaping. Ay to the decision of her pimp. The third place Ay place third The pimp. her of decision the to Eski from Mersin to her transfer of This reason was the another city. herto herand transfer batter he would an escape, attempted she Mersin, whenever her and Bahri. Ay Every time, between relationship this about information much recount never does she loan, the of holder the money each time he took from the owner of the brothel and signed a paper confirming that she wouldmoney he took be by paid Although back sex Ay the worker. is The worker. sex new a with owner brothel the enabling for in return car a like benefits material cities as Wheneverwell. he abrothel provided owner, hewould some take other money or worked by then, inEski brothel Bahri second her to sent was she later, while short was her pimp. Bahri was a it, herhad with who helped andthepunter her escape Because of today. speech in political her pimping some other sex workers in different ú e recounts that this transfer was because Bahri keep Ay Bahri to wasbecause had thisthat e recounts transfer wanted Ay Her pivotal Her pivotal fear during thistime inall and brothelsthe in she meetworked was to a ú e’s next brothel was Bursa. Bahri took her registration from Gaziantep because Gaziantep from registration her took Bahri Bursa. was brothel next e’s ú e startedtohave regular clients, Bahri intrude.would Asin ú e managed to escape from here with the help of Ahmet. of helpthe escape from herewith to managed e 39 ú e went to work was her hometown, Gaziantep. hometown, her was work to went e ú ú ú ehir. Each time, her wasrelated transfer time, Each ehir. e asserts that as Ahmet did notseriously e still underlines this point that she that is this point e still underlines ú ehir. In all the brothels she had she brothels the all In ehir. ú e knew of amountthe the ú e near himself neare and ú e CEU eTD Collection while Ay owners after the Bursabrothelsget Having managedtorid ofBahri loans the from and constant hetook brothel the brothel, Ay marriage in work asanoption take to time, at the shestarted Ere 2007 she started 2007 sheto getpaid started amonthly salary by aminister called MehmetAli iswho in still the governmenttoldhis one care to ministers of hertake From demands. 2002 till conditions by meansknown of this NGO and chance anyother in media.the The prime minister active part says she up bore with her marriage April until 16 in this NGO.is part of today. He offered her help and shelter. ForShe the sake of getting rid of her registration, she took anywant toreturn to the brothels. This ishow Ay chance not she did sayingthat show to aTV shecalled anewshapewhen to take lifein.started part Her make her situation andbrothels. in the one the the sex workers’ herAy marriageofficial with husband. shemarriage, of gives accounts physical abuse by her OnAugust husband. 9 for 5years. inshe hadbeen early the on thatshehadtoremainStartingtold from married this be When get ablesex work, to registration, by thestate. she quitrid to herrecognized of official married her long term client Ahmet. This was not an official marriage but a religious one not registration as a sex worker deleted. Ay deleted. registration asexworker as ú e wasworking inKütahya. The ceremony placetook inside Kütahyathe brothel. This part of her narrative is marked by her accounts about the TV shows she aboutthe took TVshows by heraccounts ismarked This partof hernarrative The aftermath Ay of ú e’s e’s inbrothelsworking is marked byherher struggles toget ú e had planned to marry Ahmet. The two decided to marry 3.3. ú e defines the violence during her marriage as worse hermarriage e defines than violence during asworse the ú e Tükrükçü quit sex work on May 9 on sex work e Tükrükçüquit After the Brothels After ú e mete Hayrettin Bulan, who runs the NGO that she 40 th 2001. From then on, she started to take an to take started she on, then From 2001. ÷ li,finally Kütahya and Adana th , 1996Ay th , 1996 when she when , 1996 ù ahin. In 2007, ú e had an CEU eTD Collection keep her victimized position position as well keep her depiction. victimized as askedhershift another to incidenceto ratherthan keeping on. Sheis insome way demanded to herinterrupted and program the presenter and heractivities, sex workers silencingof political registration/ official the insurance, health benefits, social of (lack demands her up voicing and marginalization she continues her critiquefallen prostitute, shehas someand financial means available forher changesto have access to. Yet, as soon as her role to candidacy reveals point. importantan As long asAy taking action against her political and social she started to talk about the police control, her rape by some police officers, some police rape by her control, police the to talk about she started brothels, the bad events that occurred, the program continued. In her accounts, she says that when inside sheexperienced things whatwere the shehow and victimized was about she talked Ay resistance toopen up spacethe for asex worker to inspeak up domainthe active politics.of violence brothels inside the state sheetc.) is prevented from politicalthe space. Thisthe suggests not get an answer for her fax. The strong correlation between the cut on this money and Ay and money this on cut the between correlation strong The fax. her for answer an get not our meetings, she was complaining about the end of this payment and faxed this minister. She did andbea fatherly readasprotectingholding the fallen handprostitute this out During to woman. Consideringwelfare politicalthe and this can payment. viewsof move government, the religious covered up this monthly salarythis money. This ministerwaspart liberalof currentthe inIslamic government Turkey. He from his own pocket. Therefore it was not based on an official 81 when Ay See, the documentary Ay on documentary the See, ú e with some money andhelp as well as the NGO she works for. In these programs, aslong as ú e declared her candidacy in the general elections, this minister stopped payinge declaredhercandidacyinminister Ay general this the stopped elections, vesika One of the TV shows that she took part in called “Esra Ceyhan Show” provided that follows a sex worker all through her life, the working conditions and ú e Tükrükçü. 41 ú e playsher victimization partof and the 81 the political the ú e’s ú e CEU eTD Collection justifies the state authority in the sense that while coming up with a severe criticism against the against criticism severe a with up coming while that sense inthe authority state the justifies some feminist groupsand keepsmoral up a She iscriticizedfordiscourse. not being ina feminist sense.Thus, this did not support family conventional the constructs itin as Istanbul feminists some among criticized is also voice her in the election. her atthis outof constructs of herpolitical theplausibility herself exhausts speech.Yet, point, For example, in her speeches, Ay discontinuity between this conflicting character of This her speech. character conflicting betweenthis discontinuity family. narrative in thatwereunderlinedin contradictions from The her thisthesis stem this sexual valueunderlyinghaving decency, honorand to assumption attached or purity, chastity, in herget tobeable terms struggles of brothels.to of out Thisimplieddifferencethe relies onan prostitution her with conflicts ofherselfasbeing women prostitute depictions than differentother speech in general against thestate policies in relation prostitutes, to prostitution andin Turkey. political her of potential the weaken honor and state the family, with identifications current initiated. Her have they project with political identifications the her current of incoherence the and implausibility the show today gives she that narrative her of contradictions the Yet policies. state identity the and prostitute to issuesrelated the about speech political astrong produce asserted from a subject position. a subject from asserted in brothels in they are in Turkey state case the practices of exploiting expression the before the hindrances the best position exemplify from and a subject her experience exploited her to claims instancesThese two areonly some examples ongoingthe of objectification Ay of Ay accepts that space political denied the shows a minister Her political fight against the official as well as the social stigmatization of stigmatization social the as well as official the against fight political Her Such strong disidentification from prostitutethe identity enables Ay Both Ay Both ú e’s experience in TV shows and the cutting of the monthly money given by given money monthly the of cutting the and shows in TV experience e’s 42 ú e as the subject of herof experience. subject the e as personal mythos ú ú e tobe able to e Tükrükçüin that Ay that ú ú e e CEU eTD Collection secure a stable life for Ay secure astablelifefor to enough long last not do state the from help assumed the interestingly, more and secondly Yet, nature. in their correct be politically to have necessarily not do They ones. material of those her representation of the prostitute identity. That is to say, her involvement in the state brothels state in the involvement her say, to is That identity. prostitute the of representation her from distinguishable also is This life. her of memory overall her within terms own its on memory indifferent conditions as well as showing up in unpleasant women’s shows by the feminists. Ay Turkish woman. typical the decent her from though- one single -a worker sex its woman protect to help fatherly thestate’s natureof term the short as be read can and shows beginning of Part andits of actions inthe state mentioned the brothels thepaternal shows nature in legalstate the II. Consideringwho demand some kind of thesocial protection from the statepolitical because of the bad working conditions inparticipation toageneral as wouldTV shows opposed that regulation all cover workers sex vision of the currentfor a government,longer leave her upon closed was alsoflatsomehow in the elections, the shecut once wasacandidate while this act than also usual. The act of renting a flat for a single sex worker upon her back. Thisinstancetwo things. illustrates Oneis Ay that flat to attend a relative’s funeralwhen shethe However, she left close saysthat this whyshehad flat. herfrom to clear account for a whilenot is It above. mentioned in minister another same the by her for rented flat a was in point city, instance An the flat was closed when she decidenot kind help what assume of to from on a politicallyfeminist state the charged agenda. came shedoes Or rather nature. in andpragmatic aredaily her requests authorities and state from the state regulations and the state’s silent complicity with sex work, the kind of help she assumes Clear from her accounts so far, her involvement in prostitution constitute a distinct in far, constitute from her Clearso prostitution herinvolvement accounts ú e as she might think they like money Just will. was e asshe mightthey themonthly think that ú e is therefore critized for accepting the state’s on help state’s the for accepting critized is e therefore fallenness 43 and restore her back to the honorable life of ú e aimsfor any help of kind including CEU eTD Collection other men. Her valorization of family,motherhood, the state as a protector, the police formakes some as expendable women that some in general a butthis of procedure shieldher of registration and turn her intoa prostituteyears ago. Her stance does notonly show her personal apprehension prostitution by being called Mrs. Ay position she social and the respect only amatter of of retrieval the isin than rather general her attempt was once assumed for, that is, of the honorable, respected women before her when I was made into this work years ago? Now they are calling me Mrs. Ay well as swore to this police at that time and still asks today, “Why did they call me “a prostitute” as as one in She andshouted a response. cried tone agitated of angry same policewasone and who had registered her years ago. When the officer called her “Mrs. Ay “Mrs. her called officer Whenthe ago. years her who hadregistered get her registration deleted. In one of these occasions, Ay occasions, these of one In deleted. her registration get years in out hadof work to shehadan attempt sex in stations she dropped after worked cities the Ay important. is time first the for her registered who officer police the pointfor her story. Therefore, Ay notout as an gradual,ultimate, linear and unexpected ending (up)in brothelsthe butas a starting stands in involvement her prostitution victimhood; of anarrative whatIcalledbefore narrative, construction, adeclaration of this united self or areconstruction of a self. the future, the into step a becomes crying of moment The experienced. she that things isTükrükçü in alsoone sensetheopening the discussion upof howsheor can to start tell the for Crying brothels. in the life her to inrelation is rewritten prostitution her to prior experience Ay of a prostitute identities:different phasesseparate that two andalsotwo into monthsfor divides hernarrative 30 In terms of showing the political ú e and of e andof non-prostitute the Ay ú ú e; for her, this shows how unfairit was once to havelabeled e’s story starts with her prostitution today. Allher life excess 44 ú in her narrative, the following account about account following inhernarrative, the e. I argue that from e. Iarguethat beginningof herthe ú e recounts seeing the police officer police the seeing e recounts ú ú e”, her answer to the to her answer e”, e went to the police the to went e ú e” This shows that CEU eTD Collection the why’s of her life why’sof the today. her and moral values as well as the politics. It is rather the opening up the space in which she can ask before social vices are therefore simply more than a validation of populist ormainstream social 45 CEU eTD Collection involvement in involvement who Sheherfather didnot yearsprostitution) asked fortalk to becauseof her only the state,not enough, Interestingly today. Ayprostitution her in resulting in them of accusation inher factors state regulations that opened the way to psychological and social loss this exerted on herby and duringin herinvolvement by sex work the exploiting, Ay my methodological and theoretical on approach part. for further analysis. Being a study on a single person, this thesis has required a challenging narrative. Initially an giving historical andlegal of sex account in work set Turkey, I groundthe as otherpeople. Ay and the current politics to make her or rather to depict her in an object position again. media mainstream by the tobecontained hindered andattempted has been by state narrowed the sex worker, ex- an as experience very the of subject the as brothels her state the inside violence structural claimthe up for this positionoffered two contradictory stories on her part.to That is, speakwhile this space has enabled Ay from a subject’s voiceor incoherencies. whose life discrepancies the bear narrative her makes that stance personal itis this and narrative aside in her space was above herfamily in all isequation. this Ay Thiswhere narrative of Ay To start with an overall account, firstly, in a calculation of the material, The unique aspect of the issue is her way of presenting her past toher family as well has use her victimization own of spaceopenedupbyher Secondly, political the a constitute In an linkmediatory understanding to attempt autobiographical to the ú e Tükrükçü, in this thesis, I tried to show the various and complex aspects of her ú e also puts her pimp, punters, her husbands, all the related social actors and ú e also addresses her own family in her critique of herown familye alsoaddresses inherhappenedher. to (her what critiqueof 4. CONCLUSION 46 ú e puts personal factors ande putspersonalfactors subjectivepart ú e reacts and opposes to these social ú e to speak CEU eTD Collection who hat introduced whointroduced meAy hat to her face. knew already who police the with problems have would she way, same the man a with out went with me atthat moment and I went out together arm in arm, it would notbe a problem. Butif she details related to how she goes through her past experience today. experience. her facticity of the or realities material the from steals nor neither adds in thesis this experience hersexwork of hernarrative of interpretation The capital. asasymbolic her of past her use of this experience to all the constituents and the social world of brothels. lifethe in in But state the this specific form the interpretation generalization of actors of sex work life of women implies herand past symbolic refreshing all relating them to the issues inhernarrativewithout these bringherby insurancebeing employer.time doesnot Shesomehow up jobs paid the without well as issues. Shehavepersonal doesnot asocial security today mainlysince she works in part- This also shows the difficulty of opening herself up to a new life. This has material conditions as past. shows, interviews, women’sgatherings and in Ay a book, shethat it thoughtshefound forher various hertohaveexpressed enough past on chances, TV had ever felt that he was not careful enough for her children etc. Although her sister told Ay told sister her Although etc. forherchildren careful enough he not felt was that had ever involvementsuch as questions hewhether hadever going repented Germany, whether to he or Again in another meeting when we came together, I was also with the woman friend In one of our informal meetings, she had asserted that if the woman friend who was offer life her about accounts first-hand some how show below instances three The Ay is where This ú ú e for the first time during her campaign.Weelection invited her e puts personal factors and subjective part in aside. hernarrative and part subjective personalfactors e puts 47 ú e prefersbeing rememberedby her ú e CEU eTD Collection See, Bordo, S. (1999). Bringing Body to Theory. In mockery sex-genderthis of system in Turkey. something: out system inAy to points Turkey ability catchto the ironies in the sex-gender system as well as the political implementation of this passivefluency translation. Her in of being part sex-gendersystem this hersimultaneous despite ideological tenets and translates them intoher personal narrative and vocabulary. Yet, this is nota bornnot a prostitute!” has value onits own. Today Ay Ay identifications, her brothels,despite state inthe hertime of aftermath culturally given set of meanings in terms of making sense of her life narrative as a whole. In the of her narrative. refinement and collection simple than oninterpretation focus is moreof analytical keen a therefore out some kind of meaningin the form of some sort of value to these assertions, the implication in my view add to the sheer critical analysis of whatAy my in of sheercritical viewaddtothe analysis managed to get out of the brothels by her own means. 82 talked to there was not the prostitute Ay which wasmore than a yearago. cinema, she said that it was her first time that she was stepping on this street since the herWhile werewalkingtowards gotothe cinema. have we andthen together campaign, to first dinner http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/feminism-epistemology/ Therefore, the narrative of prostitution that she yields today plays the part of the of part the plays today yields she that prostitution of narrative the Therefore, These instances imply “some stopping points” in the Bordosian sense Bordosian inthe points” stopping “some imply instances These And lastly, in one of our talks once, she underlined the fact that the person whom I whom person the that fact the underlined she once, talks our of one in lastly, And ú e, butit was Ay Body and Flesh 48 ú e’s narrative ise’s narrative aswellpolitical apragmatist (pp. 173-192). University of California Press. ú ú ú e, who turned into a prostitute once yet e takes e takes dominantthe andmainstream e is doing today. Rather than than Rather e isdoing today. drawing ú e’s mere words, “I was mere words, e’s 82 that would that CEU eTD Collection participation. emotional and economy leadsmissing under tothe related parts expressedinevitablyor her parts personal to economic political, complex its with world symbolic this of deconstruction or refutation The part. her on assets social and physical personal, maximize and risk minimize to calculations of well adapt techniquessurvival formsas to of as creative to this riskyenvironment web an intricate of isalsoabout resistance fact lies this symbolic that very in this paradox simply accommodateto the symbolic world of prostitution and theidentity in her subject. Yet the of her faith, struggleand management conscious of insideherbrothels time in not the order Cyprus as she was notallowed to work in Turkey since she was married. find Herhusbandpast asasex to in ameansher of tried partof Turkish worker. the prostituting her her reminding his was husband her with problem basic the brothels, the of out get to accounts, her in explains she made, she which marriage, second her In life. her in choices her with do to period yearsinof 16 her asasex Herattachment aftermath the of to this work issuehas worker. a inwithin hernarrative matter side hasbecome a The facts. prostitution very by these blurred hinderedintended gets of research and precisenessthe and academicquality, nature work the fundamentalbeing for these about factors not contentof of the research; cautious the crucial case the In analysis. character at beskillful as aswell traits and manners her personal at be adept matters and has value for analysis on its own. But to be able to manage this, the researcher should still life narrative Her her prostitution. to related her story come before that issues her personal brothels of in prostitution the by the state of Turkey is narrative since her andshaped determined Ay This thesis has also showed that the case of Ay case the that of hasalsoshowed This thesis ú e Tükrükçü represents a good example in her struggle to a good extentbecause a good example instruggleher to agood represents e Tükrükçü 49 ú e Tükrükçü account offers alimited e Tükrükçü CEU eTD Collection 83 different matter.” different Anindecentthere! street! But the decency highest is it nobody there knows though. That’sa would a woman go there otherwise?talk about Do normalthe entry, woman to patrons brothel see the money to gothere prostitutes registered The street? that goto go I “Why would there?etc. SheShe goeswouldn’t. there toIt’s say infamousshe will work in the flesh market.with her. Talkingwho about wouldnormally go to Karaköy,the once she said: Why followin further the research on Finally, from prostitution. is this a quote my interviews one of The interview dated 24.11.2008. See,Appendix It is myhope that this thesis has been ableleave to afew potential theoretical gap to 83 50 CEU eTD Collection know whether hereadthem. know whether A: toconfrontmy Iwanted print much. to dad very Iused out thenewnewpapers. from Idon't he is. It is his daughter saying that she is an ex-sex worker. man of kind what know They good-standing. with authority is an He there. well very father my know They from. this expects never he whom daughter man's a is him before Standing it." accept for? I said, "it is justis Isaid,She didn't takeit. my too.What mejust forwith Ihad "Ihave abook, it sister. signed to make people awarehave of toit, struggle to teach with in themIstanbul." A:a trueI said I tosaid, theword lawyer: "Google and "I know makeit. which He didlifepeople itI'm andcoming was from shocked." and who I am. I hadI know a thebook things saying they sex quit andgot flat! work the I A: This is when they promised us flat.a They had rented us flat,a remember? It was on thenews the second lights. You'll make a leftfrom there. After right, on the left, it's the placebut of first our girls. the Not are. lights the where Down corner. in the bastards of building blue is a A: There Özgül AkÖzgül Volkan Volkan Sar Ay ú e Tükrükçü:A Õ nc Õ ta Õ : Ö(Camera) ú : V (As In Edited The VideoDuringShot This Interview) The 24.11.2008 Interview Dated APPENDIX 1 Transcription Scene Three Scene Four Scene Two Scene One 51 CEU eTD Collection fathers would care, you know you talk to your mom every day,you know her stance. Iknow very A: When he was here, I couldn't see him. When I did, Icouldn't touch. Since Ididn't know how he So, had other. the regrets. my dad crying. Isaid a dad can also cry. Iwas crying at one side of the table. He was crying on to my kids?" Sure I had more to ask whether he had ever repented. And I'm 41, almost 42. I saw A: "Wish I had hugged my kids more? Wish I hadn't gone to Germany? Wish I was a better dad wish I hadn't?’" A: Yes yes. And I said to my dad, we ended up talking again. Iasked, "Have you ever said ‘I V: So, you were staying together? it meal andput the table.prepared on the One day we were at dinner sitting. They are used to sitting at a table, not on the ground. I many operations. Iused to call him wishto fast recovery. He would hang up, wouldn't talk to me. V: How long did you not meet? It was 7 years. He wouldn't speak to me on the phone. He had so A: My father said, "bring that brat here!" them. for honor is their A gun us. with so he knew I wasn't on the bad way. Take itlike, you don't give your horse, woman and gun,it's said my why Heknew Germany was.Seethat's watched. also what he gavemegun, as struggle that in acquaintance them. The She watched Iusedno. beonTV. whenIwould A:mom to tell No V: Did you used tosend him news? the Scene Five Scene Six 52 CEU eTD Collection Antalya. They have group sex in the detention room. Does the woman ask you to sleep with her? A: Doesn't the commissary see this? A sex worker who works on the streets gets caught in Mersin.when Icame me my became to registered me. Theonewhorapist A: When I got trapped to be registered in Islahiye, my rapistis the man, the pimp who registered V: You mean the first cop who got you in? cophadthat prevented, Iwouldn'thave gonein. A: There is rape. God sees it. Why isn'tit prevented? This is alsoin people's hand to an extent. If there. is still hair The first entered Mersin (brothel), I had sent some of my hair home. That hair is still at dad's home. A: She came with the pimp who sold me. But what struck me at mom's home was that when I A: Well, she took me out but she didn't look back. That's why I escaped from Bursa. (brothel) V: Did shecome toBursawhen you wereworking there? Didyoumeet? psychologically,financially too when I needed. Her coming to Bursa etc. well the mother's approach to her children. Ihad so many difficulties. Yes, she was with me Scene Seven Scene Eight Scene Nine 53 CEU eTD Collection They get the clients here. They talk the price. bawdyhouses. are atis There back street a bed the A: of prostitution. That there. Yea, over V: We have our mosques, don't we? Christians have churches. Irespect it. All these empty flats are bed of prostitution. me who only says this, there were reporters here. The girl was about to jump. A: Still... The cops were there. The girl was trying to jump off. Her slippers all fell down. It's not V: Now, too? prostitution. for bed a literaly While we were having the interview, there in that flat in black with bars on the balcony,it's owes usanapology!" "The state there. interview over That newspaper. A: Look Volkan! Last year, the election time. Come over. We are having an interview with a everyday! our rights rape Cops crimes. areshameful these don't come before me charged with rape, theft, or procuring." Rape, theft and procuring. Because in the prison. Even a judge said this, "You can kill someone, I would let you stand for it. But A: Itis said in prison that, "Don't f... my mom, orI f... your mom." This is how the saying goes cops? V: The are putin jail, they livewouldn't 3minutes. They wouldn'tlet live them for 3minutes. transfered. Why weren't they charged? Why weren't they jailed? Because you know that if they wouldn't say that. It's group sex. The woman is charged with 15 years. The officers were If you were a decent, honorable officer,you wouldn't do it. And I know it well that that woman Scene Ten 54 CEU eTD Collection life. Look, I have chinches in my flat. That's why I didn'tmeet you at home. God avoids if I do it. I could be selling my flesh right at the moment. Icould be leading the same isthen the state. Twoplus twois four. The one is the monument. The other is the headquarters. Belowis the prostitution. Who does this festival, the sports festival they go and put flower crowns before Atatürk's monument. A: There is the huge Taksim area. Here is Atatürk's monument. In the time of the Republican it. before vehicle isalwaysÖ: There anarmored isThere down there. thebig headquarters police This is simply done in those flat in the back. This place is all a bed of prostitution. The woman gives 10 for the flat and takes the 10 for herself. pay 30 less. My heart really hurts. It costs 50 liras in the brothel. But they get a woman for 20 liras here. They You should see these places when it is the celebration time. It gets full of soldiers. (clients) seemy duty. You shiton dear. that I officer. state's the You are do ashit. Look there is a cop over there. And one is here. These places are beds of prostitution. They don't aren'tblind,reporters Excuse mylanguage. right. They see this. While we were having the interview, we saw the women having clients from here. These illegal. was It A: was it? wasn'tregistered, V: It prostitution. It lasted for years. A guy called Zeki ran it. other women. Doyou see the flat with the blue balcony? The whole building was a bed of don't protect that woman. Come here after 10 in the evening. On this side transexuals, on the A: Women. Who is it who puts that woman in that situation? The state's men. The state's laws V: Women? 55 CEU eTD Collection I said "Ok, Sir." I didn't say "Sir." I said something else from inside! saidsummer. goinlasthere!come Thecop Icouldn't A: But after my official entry (to the brothels) was blocked, the cops laugh at me. You shouldn't But the highest decency is there nobody knows it though. That's a differentmatter. Do normal women go there? She wouln't. It is infamous there. An indecent street! She goes there to say she will work in the flesh market. Why would a woman go there otherwise? money the entry,etc. talk about A:Why would Igo to that street? The registered prostitutes go there to see the brothel patrons to (Subtitles enter,Speaking continues) Scene Eleven The End 56 CEU eTD Collection A.) The Election Handout APPENDIX 2 57 CEU eTD Collection B.) The Election Time in Istiklal in The Election Time Street B.) Istiklal 58 CEU eTD Collection Roos, J.(1994). The truelife revisited: autobiography and referentiality after McKeganey, &Barnard,M. N., (1996). Laclau,E. (1994). O’Neill, M. (1997). Prostitute Women Now. In G. Scambler and A. Scambler (Ed.), Roberts, N.(1992).Roberts, Küntay, E., & Erginsoy, G.(2005). Küntay, E., & Çokar, M. (Eds.). (2007). De Lauretis, T.(1987). Bordo, S. (1999). 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London Õ nc ÕOÕ ÷ aziçi University. aziçi k. Feminists Theorize thePolitical ÷ lu] . Istanbul. . ø leti ú im Yay Milliyetçilik: The Turnto . Oldenburg: Õ nlar (pp.33-53). . Õ . . New