Latife Hanim

Ottoman educator who founded Turkey's first secular girls' school and women's rights journal

Latife Hanim (1850-1914) was an Ottoman intellectual whose progressive reforms challenged patriarchal norms in late 19th century Istanbul. As wife of Grand Vizier Ahmed Rıza Pasha, she used her influential position to promote women's education and political participation. In 1881 she established the Darülfünun Women's College - the empire's first secular institution of higher learning for women, offering courses in mathematics, science, and political theory.

Her monthly journal 'Women's Dawn' (1885-1908) became a radical platform for feminist discourse, featuring articles on suffrage, dress reform, and women's property rights. Latife's 1892 manifesto argued that women's legal equality was essential for Ottoman modernization. She secretly funded vocational training programs for rural women, teaching weaving and bookbinding skills that provided economic independence.

Though persecuted by conservative factions, her efforts inspired future leaders like Latife Uşakligil. The Latife Hanim National Girls' High School in Ankara remains a prestigious institution, continuing her mission of empowering women through education. Her legacy is celebrated annually at the Istanbul University Gender Studies Conference.