Studying history enables us to develop a better understanding of the world in which we live. But what about our herstory? According to our guest this week, there's still surprisingly little known about even the most famous and powerful women in Ottoman times. Professor Gülhan Balsoy teaches the history of women, labour and medicine during the late-Ottoman period at Istanbul Bilgi University. She helps us dive into the archives to understand the female figures who shaped society over the centuries, from Hürrem Sultana to the lesser-known everyday characters.  For a deeper dive, you can read Professor Balsoy's writing about the Haseki Hospital or the Cibali Regie Factory as well as her article "The Politics of Reproduction in Ottoman Society, 1838–1900". For more of The Turkish Breakfast Club, you can follow us on Instagram and Facebook @TheTurkishBreakfastClub.