Discussions on Women’s Freedom (Emancipation) in Armenia

I In the 19^th century, some oratorical discussions on women’s freedom (emancipation) were going on among Constantinople’s community, initiating different interpretations. The newspaper Tsaghik (Flower) in their column Freedom to Women wrote that women by nature are feeble beings, and they exploit men[1]. Considering women’s freedom as an issue introduced from Europe, Tsaghik’s columnist wrote that in case of need for freedom, this was for men since they worked, while women didn’t display will to act and live static and lazy life[2]. The columnist added that the upbringing of humanity is entrusted to women asking what greater they still were feeling like. One can read in Tsaghik’s edition of 1887 that: “If women in Europe feel like becoming a deputy, Armenian female gender saying freedom means love freedom; therefore, such publications are dangers since women are freer than men”[3].