Finnish Tatars

A text based on “Visible and Invisible Tatar Women in Finland“ by Sabira Ståhlberg, a unique perspective that offers a refreshing insight into the Tatar community. In a historical field where works often center on men, this piece sheds light on the often-overlooked experiences of Tatar women. 

I also strongly suggest you listen to a podcast episode of Modern Tatar Identity on Finnish and Swedish Tatars (it is in English). 

Tatars in Finland  

In the 1860s, Tatar traders arrived in the Grand Duchy of Finland from Russia's Nizhny Novgorod province, seeking economic opportunities. Settling primarily for trade, they became part of Finland's diverse cultural landscape. Finland, previously under Swedish rule, became an autonomous Grand Duchy within the Russian Empire after the Swedish-Russian War of 1808–1809. Russification efforts from 1898 onwards fueled Finland's declaration of independence on December 6, 1917.

By the 1890s, Tatar men from the Mişər community were actively involved in trade across Finland, offering various goods and textiles. Most wives remained in their home villages, while complete Tatar families began residing in Finland by 1917. Finnish citizenship gradually became available to Tatars in the 1920s. 

Tatars in Finland maintained connections with the global Tatar diaspora, Turkic-speaking communities, and Muslims. The flow of Tatars from Russia and the Soviet Union continued until the border was officially closed in the 1930s. Later, the Finnish Tatars supported displaced Tatars from Tatarstan in WWII prison camps and even participated in secret tourist trips to the Soviet Union in the 1950s to visit relatives behind the Iron Curtain.

Despite facing challenges, including declining numbers from a peak of around 3,000 to fewer than 1,000, Tatars in Finland preserved a well-organized community, cultural identity, and distinct Tatar heritage. Education played a pivotal role in their integration into Finnish society, with most men becoming literate already by the late 19th century. A girls' school back in Aktuk contributed to female literacy. Additionally, the influence of the Jadidist (reformist) movement aligned their values with Western European ideals prevalent in Finland, facilitating their integration after the move. 

People learnt Russian, Finnish, Arabic, or Persian, depending on career paths or religious pursuits. Through newspapers, magazines, books, and visits to towns, Mişər Tatars remained connected to the wider world, contributing to their community's resilience and continuity in Finland.

Tatar women in Finland 

The division between traditional and modern Tatar women's roles involved distinctions between Qadimists (traditionalists) and Jadidists (reformists) but didn't fully capture the diversity of women's roles. The "women's question" in Tatar society related to broader debates on modernization, economics, politics, and society. Women challenged condescending views of the educated elite and sought protection from abuse, violence, and easier divorce options. Jadidism contributed to secularizing and reinterpreting Islam, impacting women's roles. 

Female education was crucial for preserving Tatar traditions. It remains unclear whether interest in women's issues was influenced by foreign literature or concerns about Tatar culture's survival in a Russian-focused nationalist state. Nevertheless, reformist ideas had a significant impact on women's education, not only among Tatars and Bashkorts but also in Turkestan in the early 20th century. 

While Tatar male Jadidists advocated for women's rights, portrayed the struggles of women in traditional settings and envisioned a liberated, educated female future, women themselves discussed these issues in journals like Söyembikä and Hanım. Tatar-language journals, including Shura and Vakıt, also held significant influence.

Many female educators, writers, and activists made substantial contributions, founding schools and charitable societies. 

Tatar children, especially girls, experienced more parental control than their Finnish counterparts, like restricted socializing and dating, but they also thrived in a warm and affectionate family environment. 

Grandmothers held a special place in the hearts of Mişərs and played significant roles in cooking, caring for children, forming close-knit networks, adapting seamlessly to Finnish society, embracing new customs, as well as passing down Tatar language, traditions, and skills. The traditional Tatar dish "pärämäts" (lit. pərəməç), made with love and filled with various ingredients, was a symbol of their cultural identity, representing fond memories, family gatherings, and togetherness.

Engagement in community activities fostered close bonds, with young Tatars taking on leadership roles, organizing events, inviting guest artists, and participating in cultural exchanges. These activities encompassed teaching language, religion, creating educational materials, and producing documentaries – a vital space for language and cultural development to pass down traditions to the next generation.

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Sabira Ståhlberg, Visible and Invisible Tatar Women in Finland, 2022