Ottoman Women, in the eyes of Western travelers: By Filiz Barin Akman

 

There have always been a misapprehension concerning Middle Eastern lifestyle, culture, and gender roles. In books, articles and even movies, Eastern women are portraited as illiterate housewives who are caged in their own households. Not only that, but some of the books I came across  elucidated on this matter by tracing women as slaves who live to serve… 

 

Today my talk encompasses women related issues and private lives amid the Ottoman provinces. This is not a publication filled with boring long historical texts. No this is an interesting journey of privacy within households. The aforesaid is a collective study and chronicles of the indicated topic, but from the perspective of Western travelers. As you go further with the book, you’ll notice the disparity in narrations between men and women. And that’s because women travelers did have access to women related gatherings, while men came up with random explanations from what they apprehended through others or imagined it to be. Today’s chat is brought to you by the short, interesting book Ottoman Women: in the Eyes of Western Travelers, By Filiz Barin Akman.  

 

In general, the Middle East have had a very special place in people’s heart. It’s the curiosity of wanting to know what’s hidden behind this continent and those households, as well as the love for what it has to offer. From the glaring carpets all the way to the freshly brewed coffee and the warm hammams that are filled with endless gossips. Long ago, Western travelers used to brag and boast over visiting the Middle East and the Ottoman territories by displaying the souvenirs they have got. Carpets were considered as one of the most luxurious mementos that were used to exhibit wealth. Its also an indication that the person did beyond any doubt have been to those places. As the author stated "Such carpets were not put on the floor bur rather placed on tables to show their owners had traveled to the East" (Pg.21).

 

Western travelers have not only imported souvenirs and other luxuries back home. In fact, they have been keen observers of the Ottoman way of life and manners too. As a result, they have enforced such Modus Operandi into their own households. Madam Sophia Lane Poole is one of the Western travelers who had a lot to see and describe. Throughout her collective documentation of the Ottoman society and particularly life within the harem, she was able to relate and relive the moments. And here’s what she had to say in regards to espousing Ottoman manners in her own family circle. "Having no change of plates, knives or forks, no time is lost at dinner.; and it usually occupies twenty mins. Thus, much valuable One or Two sweet dishes are placed on the tray with those which are savory; and it is singular to see the women of this country take morsels of sweet and savory food almost alternately." (Pg.61).

 

. . . 

 

Now imagine this cozy scenario with me

 

You’re sitting by the fireplace and Classical Ottoman music is playing in the background. On your right hand you catch sight of a very small cup filled with  freshly brewed thick coffee. Next to it you find two pieces of pomegranate and pistachio Turkish delights. You take a bite with every sip of the warm liquid, down to the last drop remaining. Now its just you and the empty cup staring at each other.  The question is, what would dedicated Turkish coffee addicts do? . Yes exactly . . . flip the cup, allowing the coffee remains to rest and create a magnificent picture of lines and symbols that are used to read and dictate fortune.

 

. . .

 

People in the past turned to be amazed with the way Turkish coffee was made and presented. Colonel Napier is one of the Western travelers who had the privilege to visit a public coffee house prior leaving. During his visit, the Colonel was served with the traditional Turkish coffee that he artistically described, "A small vessel, containing about a wine-glass of water is placed on the fire, and when boiling, a teaspoonful of ground coffee is put into it. Stirred up and it is suffered to boil and bubble a few second longer .. " (Pg.37).

 

Not only that, but Lady Emilia also recollected her memories of the coffee ceremony as she labeled it. However, this time, the ceremony resides within the private sphere of the society, and its the harem. Here’s what Lady Emilia had to say about the coffee ceremony "On the first tray is a glass vase of the converse, with a beautiful silver basket on either side of it, one of which is filled with spoons of the same metal. You take a spoonful of sweetmeat, and then place the spoon which you have used, in the empty basket on the other side. Then another slave presents you with a richly-cut cup of water. After that the coffee-bearers enter. One of them holds a tray of semicircular form, which hangs a magnificently embroidered and fringed cloth of gold." (Pg.39).

 

 

Coffee is not only a beverage meant to be enjoyed and forgotten afterwards. No, it has a strong meaning and resemblance, more than we ought to imagine. The small cup of thick liquid, mirrors unity and harmony within the Ottoman society. It unifies people and generates a unique long-term bond. Every social event has a distinctive way of coffee presentation. Coffee in a Turkish Hammam (bath) is always followed by gossip and scandals. Whereas coffee within the household is meant to be enjoyed in a cozy atmosphere. I don’t think there are enough words available to describe the beauty of Turkish coffee, the ceremony that accompanies it and the magical lines that the cup creates afterwards. The whole procedure differs from one domain to another. Both men and women proceed with the process and end it in a different way. But we can surely admit that women are more observant to details and demonstration. 

 

 

The notion of Ottoman women living in abundance and hostility managed to increase back then. From one book to another, they were pictured as atypical beings who lack entrainment and gratification. However, that all changed when women travelers visited the harem and Ottoman private households. As Lady Montagu have recalled about women’s freedom within the Ottoman provinces " Turkish Ladies, who are perhaps freer than any ladies in the universe, and are the only women in the world that lead a life of uninterrupted pleasure exempt form cares;." (Pg.46).

 

Sophia Lane-Poole who lived in Ottoman Cairo, emphasized on the idea of liberty amongst women and how different reality is from what they’re pictured and imagined them to be back home. Here’s what she had to say in regards to this matter "We imagine in England that the husband in these regions is really lord and master, and he is in some cases; nut you will scarcely believe that the master of the house may be excluded for many days from his own hareem .. " (Pg.48).

 

The book continues to provide authentic documented confirmation from Western travelers, proving the falsification and misguidance of information. However, what I pointed out is what really caught my attention and needed to write/talk about, and I did !

 

I’d like to end this cozy talk by quoting Julia Pardone who lived in Constantinople and witnessed the actuality of events, afar from the fabrications .. Madam Pardone's statement is an authentic verbal documentation of reality as it is. 

"If, we are all prone to believe, freedom be happiness, 

then are the Turkish women the happiest, for they are certainly the freest individuals

in the empire. Its is the fashion in Europe to pity the women of the East; but

it is ignorance of their real position alone which can endanger so misplaced

an exhibition of sentiment". (Pg, 47).

 

 

As a person who loves to travel and read, this book is a combination of both .. You’ll travel to the Ottoman provinces and into the harems while you’re snuggling under the blanket with this book. The writing style takes you into another dimension, a dimension of historical beauty and majesty. Not only that, but by the end of this publication you’ll end up with multiple standpoints in regards to this topic which will allow you to differentiate between accurate and flawed facts.