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Article: On Istanbul Beaches, an Altered Social Fabric; Class Divisions Seen In Swimsuit Uproar
- Article from:
- The Washington Post
- Article date:
- September 21, 2005
- Author:
CopyrightThis material is published under license from the Washington Post. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Washington Post. (Hide copyright information)
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The Turkish language has two words for underwear.
Kulot, pronounced like the word for pants-skirt, is actually
French, and as such, snugly captures the delicate sensibilities,
urbane airs and consuming aspirations of Turks who see themselves as
Europeans. Known as "white Turks," they have long held sway in this
beautiful city that stands half in Europe, half in Asia. By bridging
the two, Istanbul has defined cosmopolitanism for a millennium.
Only in the last generation has Istanbul become a beacon for the
rest of Turkey. The working-class people following jobs and
opportunities here from the villages and smaller cities of the
Anatolian peninsula are known as "black Turks." And when they pull ...