SUMMARY
The chapter comprehensively covers the changing perceptions of Turkish society on issues such as family, having children, fertility, abortion and birth preferences, and the social divisions on these issues:
- If you don't have children, you can't be a family, you're just husband and wife.
- Women can have abortions or have abortions if they want to.
- Women should be the only ones who decide how to give birth.
- Having children is important to continuing my family line.
- My family makes me feel safe.
Research findings reveal that traditional definitions of the family are being replaced by more flexible approaches based on individual preferences. The debates sparked by the Health Minister's statements highlight how this issue resonates across different segments of society, showing that perceptions regarding women's decision-making rights over their bodies and the definition of family differ significantly according to age, gender, education, political orientation, and lifestyle. While AK Party, DEM Party, and MHP voters generally do not agree with the statement 'Women can choose to terminate pregnancy and have an abortion', disagreement rate stands at 23% among CHP voters. Similarly, the highest rates of disagreement regarding the idea that women should have the discretion to choose their childbirth method are found in these same three parties, whereas the majority of CHP voters believe the decision should belong to the woman. As urbanization and education levels increase, the rate of agreement with these statements rises.
