Women's Voices in the Intellectual World: From Silence to Speech, From Invisibility to Power

Women's voices have been suppressed or ignored throughout history in the intellectual world. Women have not only been deprived of their right to write or think, but they have also been systematically excluded from areas of intellectual production. However, despite all this oppression, women have never hesitated to create and make their own voices heard throughout history. Today, women are becoming more visible in every area of ​​the intellectual world. However, the problem is not just "being visible"; it is to make this voice sustainable, to go beyond representation and increase its effectiveness.

Historical Silence: Can't Women Think?

Although women have made serious contributions to the fields of philosophy, science, art and literature throughout history, these contributions have generally been ignored in "male-centered" historiography. Since Plato's academy, the definition of "thinking person" has been identified with men. Women's intellectual production has either been confined to the private sphere or their names have been overshadowed by men.

Mary Wollstonecraft laid one of the cornerstones of early feminist thought with her "A Vindication of the Rights of Woman"; however, for centuries she was defined through the identity of "mother". Similarly, Simone de Beauvoir, although she introduced the concept of gender by saying "one is not born a woman, one becomes a woman", was remembered in Sartre's shadow for many years.

Reality in Numbers: Where are Women?

Women in Academia:

According to UNESCO data, the rate of women doing scientific research worldwide is around 33%.

This rate drops to 28% in STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) fields.

According to 2023 data, the rate of women with professorship titles in academic institutions in Europe is only 24%.

Women Experts in the Media:

According to the Global Media Monitoring Project (2023), only 24% of experts quoted in the news are women.

More than 80% of guests on TV talk shows are men.

The number of news articles that receive expert opinions from women is 3 times less than that of men.

Publishing and Literature:

65% of the 2022 Booker Prize nominees were male writers.

30% of the first novels published in Türkiye in 2023 were written by women writers.

Again, in Türkiye, the average rate of women in editorial decision-making bodies of publishing houses is 38%.

The Difficulties of Being a Woman in the Intellectual World

The Problem of "PanelMan":

The constant invitation of men as speakers at conferences and symposiums has given rise to the term "Manel". The fact that the opinions of women experts are ignored deepens the problem of representation.

Sexist Stereotypes in Academia:

Women academics face more "labor-intensive" tasks than their male colleagues: consulting, commission work, administrative responsibilities. However, they can fall behind in promotion and publication areas.

Troll Attacks in Digital Spaces:

Women journalists and writers are targeted on social media 4 times more than their male colleagues (Source: IFJ, 2022).

Where Are We Going? Is a New Intellectual Paradigm Possible?

Good Practices:

BBC 100 Women Project: Selects 100 women who make intellectual contributions from around the world and gives them visibility.

TEDxWomen: Creates platforms where women can tell their stories and ideas.

Recommendations:

Mentorship Programs: Guidance from female leaders for young women to join academia and writing.

Women-Focused Publishing Policies: Publishing houses and magazines that feature books and articles by female writers should be supported.

Feminist Thought Collectives: Solidarity-oriented, intellectual sharing groups should increase.

In the intellectual world, women do not just make their voices heard; they turn this voice into a tool for transformation. It is our responsibility to make this voice sustainable, to carry it to decision-making mechanisms and to pave the way for new generations. An intellectual order in which women are not only "participants" but also "founders" is possible. We can write this together.