Abstract
The organization of Akhism (Ahilik) is an example of non-formal education, established on Anatolian soil in the 13th century. With its women's branch—Bajiyan-ı Rum/Bacılık/sisterhood—it aims to educate women professionally and helps women contribute to society. It is expected from women and men to be good and moral individuals, tradesmen, craftsmen, or traders. By doing their jobs well, they managed to achieve economic stability in society. Women were given the opportunity to have entrepreneurial characteristics in the community and to do their best in line with their own abilities. Akhism/Bacılık system affected the Turkish states and education systems established on Anatolian lands. The effect also continues today. In this chapter, which is a literature review, what the Akhism/Bajiyan-ı Rum system is, its place in the vocational education of women, and its effect on today were discussed.
TopIntroduction
Empowering women with education in every dimension of life, such as political, social and economic is the key to eliminate the gender gap, ensure women’s rights and ultimately create an equal, inclusive, and sustainable society. As Tor and Ağlı (2016) stated, education plays a vital role in minimizing discrimination based on the group or gender in society. Therefore, providing the best education for women is a sustainable solution for governments to achieve the goal of empowering women. In societies, there are a large number of women facing structural discrimination in terms of fundamental rights for reasons such as gender and ethnicity (Sundaram, Sekar & Subburaj, 2014). Women must be encouraged in all aspects of life in order to minimize or eradicate these disadvantages. This is important to keep the social balance intact. Entrepreneurial skills are critical for women on the way to achieve social and economic equality. Entrepreneurship is initially linked to the economy, but today it is being handled in different dimensions (Gibb, 2002). At present, entrepreneurship refers to an innovative ability to think, to motivate work, to communicate, to like the job, to cooperate, to make effective and efficient use of time, to be open to change, to persuade. So, women should get entrepreneurship education to eliminate gender barriers and be active in economic life. Entrepreneurship education is a process in which learners gain a range of skills that they can apply in all areas of their lives, which will provide more individual, social, and economic returns (European Commission, 2011). In terms of entrepreneurship education for vocational education among women in the Turkish education system, there was an organization called Akhism (Ahilik) for both women and men in Anatolia in the 13th century. It included a women and migrant women's organization called Anatolian Sisters' Organization / Bacıyan-ı Rum in the old Turkish language. This branch was also called Bacılık (Sisterhood), Anatolian women branches. Akhism and Baciyan-ı Rum had the same characteristics, and Bajiyan-ı Rum was a part of Akhism (Köken & Örnek Büken, 2015; Çubukçu, 2015). So, when Akhism is used in this chapter, it will also be referred to as Baciyan-ı Rum (Bacılık).
Key Terms in this Chapter
Bajiyan Al Rum/Sisterhood (Bacilik/Baciyan-i Rum): Bajiyan-i Rum is called sisterhood, Anatolian women’s branches. Rum was the name given to Anatolia at that time. “Baci” means sister as a word. Baciyan-i Rum means the women/sisters of Anatolia. It is a part of Akhism and it has the same characteristics as Akhism. It is the first known women's branch to develop women professionally and to give them entrepreneurial characteristics.
Akhism (Ahilik): Akhi (ahi) means etymologically “my brother” in Arabic. And Akhism means brotherhood. It is an example of non-formal education. It emerged in Anatolia (Turkey) as the social and educational organization in 13. century during the Seljuk State. It is a system that supports women to have a profession and to have an entrepreneurial spirit with the Baciyan-i Rum.