Customary Killings in Turkey and Turkish Modernization

Rather than reducing the problem to ethno-cultural characteristics, we explain the persistence of customary killings in Turkey through the shortcomings of the Turkish modernization project. As we argue, the problem persists because of the failure of modernization to have a real impact on rural regions, and of the conceptualization of woman by the modernizing elite as an object to be moulded. Also, by utilizing proverbs and novels we address the prevalent patriarchal culture which endorses customary killings but, far from being problematized, it is even promoted by this project. Alternatively, we propose a more critical and deliberative modernization. © 2009 Taylor & Francis.