Definition: Honor, in Turkey, is defined as “the value of a person in his own eyes, but also in the eyes of his society” (Pitt-Rivers, 1965, p. 21). In honor cultures, an individual’s worth is not only determined by how one perceives one’s self but also how the society evaluates them.
Honor cultures offer an intriguing contrast: they are places of great hospitality and politeness as well as places where violence can quickly break out due to a perceived affront. (Cross et al., 2013) Violence is often linked to family disputes, and what the honor code implies for men and women.
Traditionally, a man in an honor culture had to carefully cultivate an image of toughness, and a willingness to retaliate any sort of threat directed to himself, his family, or his property. (Nisbett & Cohen, 1996). The implications of the honor culture also apply to women. Honor code norms for females stress modesty, the avoidance of shame and behaviors that might threaten the good name of the family (e.g., adultery or sexual immodesty) (Vandello & Cohen, 2003) Women have great power in regards to the honor code as they can stain the honor of the family or increase the reputation of the family. According to the personal account of a clinical psychology professor at Turkey’s Bilgi University, a group of women students from all over the country was talking about their family’s reactions to them getting their periods. They all said they were slapped by their mother’s in a joking manner as the mothers implied that they should start feeling ashamed of themselves for their sexuality and because slaps bring some blush onto one’s cheeks.
Implications for Suicide
Within this cultural framework, male violence against women in the face of female misbehavior seems necessary and proper to keep the integrity of the family preserved. The importance of family cohesion coupled with traditional gender roles, pressures women to remain in situations that could be dangerous for them. (Cohen, 2013) The violence that often arises from the pressures of the honor code could lead to a sense of hopelessness among individuals. This sense of hopelessness coupled with other circumstantial factors could play into the decision of committing suicide.
“Mustang”-A depiction of the consequences of the honor code
Mustang is a 2015 film directed by the Turkish-French director Deniz Gamze Ergüven. It is set in a conservative village on the coast of the Black Sea in Turkey. It follows the lives of 5 sisters lives. It can be found on Netflix.