Governess Institution During The Late Ottoman Empire

Starting to be carried out in the 19th century, the occidental reforms also caused Ottoman society to be westernized and get impressed from the West. Even though it was Europe that is mentioned while talking about this effect, France is the primary state that had influence on Ottoman society with regards to education, state organization, art and other areas. After a while, the demand for receiving education in western style turned into an effort of living, dressing and speaking like them. As it was seen as ignorantness this attitude of the government and the community, the efforts for raising children as if they are native Europeans could not be prevented. And for providing this, people with financial power hired European and especially French nannies or governesses for their children by their tender ages. Governesses educated the children who are ready to learn anything, in accordance with their beliefs and notions, and taught their own languages to these children perfectly. Not seeming as if a problem at first; with this, the families and especially the children started to be alienated from the social values. Considering the social structure of that era, this resulted in some social deteriorations and disengagements. The intelligentsia of the period treated this either in their books or in their novels and stories and they criticized the governesses when appropriate. Government handled the subject of governesses and followed them closely with regards to harms they gave and their undependability. Moreover, the government did not even give permission for them to change their places in the country with only some exceptions.

Keywords

Governess, Westernization, The system of Ottoman education, World War I