Voices That Matter: Kurdish Women at the Limits of Representation in Contemporary Turkey

In Voices That Matter, Marlene Schäfers examines the sociopolitical power of Kurdish womens voices in contemporary Turkey, revealing that "raising one's voice" is fraught with anxieties, dilemmas, and contradictions. She shows that new vocal practices produce new selves and practices of social relations, and how contemporary politics foster new hopes and desires but also create novel vulnerabilities as they valorize, elicit, and discipline voice in the name of empowerment and liberation.

Format: Hardback
Length: 240 pages
Publication date: 03 January 2023
Publisher: The University of Chicago Press

“Raise your voice!” and “Speak up!” are familiar refrains that assume, all too easily, that gaining voice will lead to empowerment, healing, and inclusion for marginalized subjects. Marlene Schäfers' Voices That Matter reveals where such assumptions fall short, demonstrating that “raising one's voice” is no straightforward path to emancipation but fraught with anxieties, dilemmas, and contradictions. In its attention to the voice as form, this book examines not only what voices say but also how they do so, focusing on Kurdish contexts where oral genres have a long, rich legacy. Examining the social labor that voices carry out as they sound, speak, and resonate, Schäfers shows that where new vocal practices arise, they produce new selves and practices of social relations.

In Turkey, recent decades have seen Kurdish voices gain increasing moral and political value as metaphors of representation and resistance. Women's voices, in particular, are understood as potent means to withstand patriarchal restrictions and political oppression. By ethnographically tracing the transformations in how Kurdish women relate to and employ their voices as a result of these shifts, Schäfers illustrates how contemporary politics foster not only new hopes and desires but also create novel vulnerabilities as they valorize, elicit, and discipline voice in the name of empowerment and liberation.

The book's central argument is that the voice is not just a means of communication but also a site of power and resistance. It explores how the voice is used to express identity, negotiate power relations, and challenge dominant narratives. The author argues that the voice is not just a tool for individual empowerment but also a means of collective resistance and transformation.

One of the key themes of the book is the relationship between the voice and gender. The author argues that women's voices have historically been marginalized and silenced, but that they are increasingly being recognized as powerful and valuable. The book explores how women use their voices to challenge patriarchal norms, advocate for gender equality, and resist political oppression.

Another theme of the book is the role of technology in shaping the voice. The author argues that new technologies, such as social media and digital platforms, have opened up new possibilities for the expression and dissemination of voice. However, the author also notes that these technologies can be used to control and surveil voice, and that they can perpetuate existing power inequalities.

The book also explores the political implications of the voice. The author argues that the voice can be used to promote political change and social justice, but that it can also be used to undermine democratic institutions and promote authoritarianism. The book explores how political actors use the voice to shape public opinion, mobilize support, and consolidate power.

Overall, Voices That Matter is a thought-provoking and insightful book that offers a new perspective on the power and significance of the voice. The author's ethnographic approach provides a rich and detailed account of the ways in which the voice is used and experienced in different cultural and political contexts. The book is a valuable contribution to the field of communication studies and will be of interest to scholars and researchers working in a wide range of disciplines, including anthropology, sociology, politics, and cultural studies.

Dimension: 229 x 152 x 10 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780226819808