Biography

Duygu Asena (19 April 1946 – 30 July 2006) was a Turkish journalist, best-selling author and activist for women's rights. She was born in Istanbul as the daughter of Nihal and Muhtar Asena. His father was in the sesame business. His grandfather is CHP Gümüşhane deputy Ali Şevket Öndersev. The poet İnci Asena is also her sister. After completing her secondary education at Kadıköy Private Girls' College, she studied at Istanbul University Pedagogy Department. Starting her career as a pedagogue, Asena worked at Haseki Hospital Children's Clinic and Istanbul University Children's House. Her first article in the newspaper was published in the Butterfly supplement of the Hurriyet newspaper in 1972. Since then, she has been a journalist and manager in various magazines and newspapers. She was the editor-in-chief of Kadınca magazine, one of the most important women's magazines in Turkey, between 1978 and 1992. She also served as Kim magazine. She prepared and presented a program called Ondan Sonra (After That) on TRT-2 television channel (1992–1997).

Continuing her writing as well as journalism, Asena made a name for herself with her first book, Kadının Adı Yok. The book was banned in 1988 because it was considered obscene. After a long lawsuit, it was allowed to be re-released and then filmed by director Atıf Yılmaz in the same year. Because of her writings and the themes she touched on in her books, Asena became known as a feminist writer. Asena died on 30 July 2006 at the VKV American Hospital, where she was being treated for a brain tumor. She was buried in Zincirlikuyu Cemetery. Turkey P.E.N. The Writers' Association awarded Duygu Asena an award for her services to the Turkish women's movement in 2006 and gave the first award to İpek Çalışlar for her biography of Latife Hanım.Duygu Asena Awards are still being given. In 2022, Seray Şahiner was deemed worthy of this award for her novel "Ülker Abla".