It was only in the 1980s that Turkish woman began to see herself as a political actor rather than as a housewife at home with a life based only on her family. This belief still lingers on in the 1990s among a significant portion of society which to some extent does not identify with the secular state and its policies. This statement reflects a change in political participation patterns. The trend over time is that weakened patriarchal structure and women's entry in the labor force leads to more independent decisionmaking by women. Researching the relationship between social situation and voting behavior yields interesting results.
Married women participate in elections more than single or widowed ones.
The reason might be attributed to husband and wife voting as units. In general, working women vote more than housewives, since they are integrated in the wider society through work. In the early Republic, Ataturk was facing accusations of dictatorship. In order to eliminate this undemocratic image, women's suffrage was granted in 1934. During the one-party regime women had secured their place in the parliament.