Feride Acar

Ayşe Feride Acar was born on 14 January 1948 in Bursa, Turkey. She earned a bachelor's degree in sociology at the Middle East Technical University in Ankara in 1970. She furthered her education in the United States, earning a master's degree in 1973 and a PhD in 1976, from Bryn Mawr College in political sociology.{{sfn|OHCHR|2007}}

After completing her studies, Acar returned to Turkey and was hired as an associate professor in the Department of Public Administration at the Middle East Technical University (METU), teaching sociology.{{sfn|Lie|O'Leary|1990|p=11}}{{sfn|The Sacramento Bee|1996|p=15}} She was the founding chair of the Gender and Women's Studies Graduate Program at METU and served as its head from 1994 to 2004.{{sfn|Bianet|2019}}{{sfn|Central European University|2020}} Simultaneously, she served as chair of the Department of Political Science and Public Administration from 2001 to 2007.{{sfn|Sengupta|2001|p=33}}{{sfn|Istanbul Bilgi University|2007}} She retired in 2015.{{sfn|Acar|2015|p=2}}

From the 1980s, Acar was active in the women's rights movement. She attended the 1995 Beijing Conference on women and was elected to the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW Committee) in 1997. She served on the CEDAW Committee through 2005, acting as its rapporteur between 1999 and 2001, vice president from 2001 to 2003, and president between 2003 and 2005.{{sfn|Ayata|Candaş|2018|p=194}} She returned to the CEDAW Committee in 2011 and served until 2019.{{sfn|Central European University|2020}} She assisted in the development of the Istanbul Convention from 2006 to 2011 and when its monitoring organ went into force, she served as a member.{{sfn|Central European University|2020}}{{sfn|Bianet|2015}} She was the Turkish Representative of the first monitoring Ad Hoc Committee (CAHVIO) from 2009 to 2010, and from 2015, the Group of Experts of Action against Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (GREVIO).{{sfn|Ayata|Candaş|2018|p=194}} Acar was elected for three consecutive terms as president of GREVIO, completing her service in 2019.{{sfn|Bianet|2019}}{{sfn|Central European University|2020}}{{sfn|Ayata|Candaş|2018|p=194}}

In 2010, she was the honoree of the Parliamentarians for Global Action's Defender of Democracy Award.{{sfn|Parliamentarians for Global Action|2019}} In 2018, she was honored for her record in human rights by the Canadian government{{sfn|Central European University|2020}} and that same year was honored by the Turkish Association of University Women for her activism.{{sfn|Graduate Women International|2018}} In 2019, Acar was awarded the Pro Merito Medal of the Council of Europe for her service in advancing women's rights.{{sfn|Bianet|2019}} In 2018, she was included in the list of the top 100 people fighting gender discrimination in the world with her fight for equality, prepared by the non-governmental organization Apolitical.{{cite web|access-date=1 June 2018 |archive-date=30 May 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180530235254/http://www.hurriyet.com.tr/gundem/ilk-100luk-mucadele-40853069 |first1=Elif |last1=Ergu |publisher=Hürriyet gazetesi, 31 Mayıs 2018 |title=İlk 100'lük mücadele |url=http://www.hurriyet.com.tr/gundem/ilk-100luk-mucadele-40853069 |url-status=live}}{{cite web|access-date=1 June 2018 |archive-date=14 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180614043036/https://apolitical.co/gender-equality-top-100/ |publisher=Apolitical.co sitesi |title=Gender Equality Top 100 |url=https://apolitical.co/gender-equality-top-100/}}

The focus of Acar's research has typically been gender equality and women's rights. She has written on women in academia and education, in socio-political movements, and with regard to international human rights standards.{{sfn|Central European University|2020}} Among her works are:

• {{cite journal |ref=none |last1=Acar |first1=Feride |title=Turkish Women in Academia: Roles and Careers |journal=METU Studies in Development |volume=10 |issue=4 |date=1983 |pages=409–446 |publisher=Middle East Technical University |location=Ankara |issn=1010-9935}}{{sfn|Lie|O'Leary|1990|p=11}}
• {{cite book |ref=none |last1=Acar |first1=Feride |last2=Dizier |first2=Anne |title=Conditions of Turkish Women and the Appeal of Conservative Religious Ideologies |date=1991 |publisher=Middle East Technical University |location=Ankara |oclc=320872224}}
• {{cite book |ref=none |last1=Acar |first1=Feride |editor1-last=Tapper |editor1-first=Richard |title=Islam in Modern Turkey: Religion, Politics, and Literature in a Secular State |date=1991 |publisher=Palgrave Macmillan |location=London |chapter=Women in the Ideology of Islamic Revivalism in Turkey: Three Islamic Women's Journals |pages=280–303 |isbn=978-1-85043-321-7 |oclc=936943743}}{{sfn|Lie|O'Leary|1990|p=11}}
• {{cite book |ref=none |last1=Acar |first1=Feride |last2=Güneş-Ayata |first2=Ayşe |last3=Varoğlu |first3=Demet |title=Cinsiyete dayalı ayrımcılık: Türkiye'de eğitim sektörü örneği; cinsiyete dayalı ayrımcılık ve kadın çalışanlara karşı tutumlar |date=1999 |publisher=T.C. Başbakanlık Kadının Statüsü ve Sorunları Genel Müdürlüğü |location=Ankara |language=Turkish |trans-title=Discrimination Based on Gender: Education Sector Example in Turkey; Gender-Based Discrimination and Attitudes Towards Female Employees |isbn=978-975-19-2328-8}}
• {{cite book |ref=none |editor1-last=Acar |editor1-first=Feride |editor2-last=Günes-Ayate |editor2-first=Ayşe |title=Gender and Identity Construction: Women of Central Asia, the Caucasus and Turkey |date=2000 |publisher=Brill Publishers |location=Leiden |isbn=978-90-04-49202-8}}
• {{cite book |ref=none |last1=Acar |first1=Feride |last2=Ariner |first2=Hakki Onur |title=Women's Human Rights and Gender Equality |date=2009 |publisher=Ministry of Interior in Turkey |location=Ankara |isbn=978-605-378-094-6}}
• {{cite book |ref=none |last1=Acar |first1=Feride |last2=Altunok |first2=Gülbanu |editor1-last=Dedeoglu |editor1-first=Saniye |editor2-last=Elveren |editor2-first=Adem Y. |title=Gender and Society in Turkey: The Impact of Neoliberal Policies, Political Islam and EU Accession |url=https://archive.org/details/gendersocietyint0000unse/page/n10/mode/1up |date=2012 |publisher=I.B. Tauris |location=London |chapter=Understanding Gender Equality Demands in Turkey: Foundations and Boundaries of Women's Movements |pages=31–46 |isbn=978-0-7556-0747-1}}

{{reflist}}

{{refbegin|30em}}

• {{cite web |last1=Acar |first1=Feride |title=Curriculum Vitae |url=https://rm.coe.int/cv-feride-acar/16804629cd |website=rm.coe.int |publisher=Council of Europe |access-date=26 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220327173532/https://rm.coe.int/cv-feride-acar/16804629cd |archive-date=27 March 2022 |location=Strasbourg, France |date=2015 |url-status=live}}
• {{cite book |last1=Ayata |first1=Gökçeçiçek |last2=Candaş |first2=Ayşen |editor1-last=Afkhami |editor1-first=Mahnaz |editor2-last=Ertürk |editor2-first=Yakin |editor3-last=Mayer |editor3-first=Ann Elizabeth |title=Feminist Advocacy, Family Law and Violence against Women: International Perspectives |url=https://1lib.mx/book/3614661/88a6d0 |date=2018 |publisher=Routledge |location=New York, New York |chapter=10. Turkey |pages=178–197 |isbn=978-1-138-34493-8}}
• {{cite book |editor1-last=Lie |editor1-first=Suzanne Stiver |editor-link1=Suzanne Stiver Lie |editor2-last=O'Leary |editor2-first=Virginia E. |title=Storming the Tower: Women in the Academic World |url=https://archive.org/details/stormingtowerwom0000unse/page/11/mode/1up |date=1990 |publisher=Kogan Page |location=London |isbn=978-1-85091-872-1}}
• {{cite news |last1=Sengupta |first1=Somini |title=Turkish Students Shrug at Law on Marital Equality |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/100453578/arizona-republic/ |access-date=26 April 2022 |work=The Arizona Republic |agency=NY Times Agency |date=1 December 2001 |location=Phoenix, Arizona |page=33 |via=Newspapers.com}}
• {{cite web |ref={{harvid|OHCHR|2007}}|author= |title=Biographical data form of Ms. Ayşe Feride ACAR Turkish candidate to CEDAW |url=https://www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/Documents/HRBodies/CEDAW/CVMembers/Acar.pdf |website=Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights |publisher=United Nations |access-date=25 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220425203436/https://www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/Documents/HRBodies/CEDAW/CVMembers/Acar.pdf |archive-date=25 April 2022 |location=Geneva, Switzerland |date=2007 |url-status=live}}
• {{cite web |ref={{harvid|Parliamentarians for Global Action|2019}}|author= |title=Defender of Democracy Award |url=https://www.pgaction.org/defender-of-democracy-award.html |website=pgaction.org |publisher=Parliamentarians for Global Action |access-date=26 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220403211855/https://www.pgaction.org/defender-of-democracy-award.html |archive-date=3 April 2022 |location=Washington, D. C. |date=2019 |url-status=live}}
• {{cite news |ref={{harvid|Bianet|2015}}|author= |title=Feride Acar Türkiye'nin GREVIO Adayı Seçildi |url=https://bianet.org/bianet/kadin/162799-feride-acar-turkiye-nin-grevio-adayi-secildi |agency=Bianet |access-date=26 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220119081915/https://bianet.org/bianet/kadin/162799-feride-acar-turkiye-nin-grevio-adayi-secildi |archive-date=19 January 2022 |location=Istanbul, Turkey |language=Turkish |trans-title=Feride Acar Selected as Turkey's GREVIO Candidate |date=5 March 2015 |url-status=live}}
• {{cite news |ref={{harvid|The Sacramento Bee|1996}}|author=|title=First Lady Meets Turkish Women, Leaders |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/100453539/the-sacramento-bee/ |access-date=26 April 2022 |work=The Sacramento Bee |agency=Washington Post |date=27 March 1996 |location=Sacramento, California |page=15 |via=Newspapers.com}}
• {{cite news |ref={{harvid|Bianet|2019}}|author= |title=Prof. Dr. Feride Acar Awarded 'Pro Merito Medal' by Council of Europe |url=https://m.bianet.org/bianet/gender/208895-prof-dr-feride-acar-awarded-pro-merito-medal-by-council-of-europe |agency=Bianet |access-date=26 April 2022 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20220426134633/https://m.bianet.org/bianet/gender/208895-prof-dr-feride-acar-awarded-pro-merito-medal-by-council-of-europe |archive-date=26 April 2022 |location=Istanbul, Turkey |date=28 May 2019 |url-status=live}}
• {{cite web |ref={{harvid|Istanbul Bilgi University|2007}}|author= |title=Sivil Toplum Kuruluşlarına Yönelik “Kadınların İnsan Hakları” Semineri-I, 21–23 Eylül 2007 |url=https://insanhaklarimerkezi.bilgi.edu.tr/tr/news/sivil-toplum-kuruslarna-yonelik-kadnlarn-insa/ |website=insanhaklarimerkezi |publisher=Istanbul Bilgi University |access-date=26 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220426145223/https://insanhaklarimerkezi.bilgi.edu.tr/tr/news/sivil-toplum-kuruslarna-yonelik-kadnlarn-insa/ |archive-date=26 April 2022 |location=Istanbul, Turkey |language=Turkish |trans-title="Women's Human Rights" Seminar for Non-Governmental Organizations-I, 21–23 September 2007 |date=23 September 2007}}
• {{cite web |ref={{harvid|Graduate Women International|2018}}|author= |title=TAUW held its annual Women Leaders Award Ceremony |url=https://graduatewomen.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/4-April-2018-UPDATE-.pdf |website=GWI Update |publisher=Graduate Women International |access-date=26 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220426160450/https://graduatewomen.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/4-April-2018-UPDATE-.pdf |archive-date=26 April 2022 |location=Geneva, Switzerland |date=April 2018}}
• {{cite web |ref={{harvid|Central European University|2020}}|author= |title=The Istanbul Convention & GR 35 of CEDAW as International Norms and Mechanisms to Combat Gender-Based Violence against Women |url=https://events.ceu.edu/2020-02-20/istanbul-convention-gr-35-cedaw-international-norms-and-mechanisms-combat-gender-based |publisher=Central European University |access-date=26 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200824013018/https://events.ceu.edu/2020-02-20/istanbul-convention-gr-35-cedaw-international-norms-and-mechanisms-combat-gender-based |archive-date=24 August 2020 |location=Budapest, Hungary |date=20 February 2020 |url-status=live}}

{{refend}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Acar, Feride}}

Category:1948 births

Category:Living people

Category:People from Bursa

Category:Middle East Technical University alumni

Category:Bryn Mawr College alumni

Category:Academic staff of Middle East Technical University

Category:Gender studies academics

Category:Turkish sociologists

Category:Turkish women's rights activists

Category:Turkish women activists

Category:Turkish women academics

Category:Turkish women sociologists

Category:20th-century Turkish women scientists

Category:20th-century Turkish scientists

Category:20th-century social scientists

Category:21st-century social scientists