Abstract:

Mehmet Akif Ersoy, the poet of independence, lived during the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire. He was a philosopher and author who supported the fight for independence with his poems and speeches in several cities around Anatolia. In Safahat, where seven of his poetry books are gathered, he reflected on many aspects of his period’s historical and religious matters. In this article, the perception of “women” in Mehmet Akif Ersoy’s Safahat is examined within the context of several social issues. Mehmet Âkif mentioned women who suffered from poverty during the war, who lost their children and husbands and those who struggled with life conditions while their children were suffering from illnesses. Apart from all these external pressures, he also reflected awareness of domestic violence women were exposed to and the discomfort and anxiety caused by their husband’s bad habits. He pointed out that ignorance was the main reason for the problems women faced in that period. He states man’s bad habits, such as alcohol and gambling harm families, therefore, society. Regarding family as a social institution, he believes that religious principles about marriage and divorce were misinterpreted. He highlighted the sacredness of marriage and motherhood, argued that a healthy society could only be established with healthy families. At this point, he shed light not on his period only but also today’s similar problems.