Eletirdiimiz Kadar Deitirelim | Elif Eda Güne | TEDxAtakumWomen
Elif Eda Güneş argues that women are fundamentally the creators of technology, drawing parallels between the historical myth of Lilith's pursuit of freedom and the ongoing necessity for women to lead in areas like health and digital infrastructure. She bases this on her personal journey, from teaching literacy in her village to developing AI software and working on women's health apps, proving that female agency is the driving force in societal advancement. Her commitment is demonstrated by her current work with Merve Yorgancılar on the digitalization of the blue collar and writing with Marmara University.
## Speakers & Context
- **Elif Eda Güneş** — Presenter; born and raised in the village of Yozgat; identifies as someone who is "excited" because a dream is coming true.
- Background: Dreamed of revolutionizing the world; father is a revolutionist, but her understanding of revolution is different.
- Current work: Developing an app focused on women's health and working on the digitalization of the blue collar.
- Context: Speaking at an event related to the 100th year of the Republic of Turkey (acknowledging Mustafa Kemal Atatürk).
## Theses & Positions
- Women inherently create everything, and they will continue to do so, arguing against the question: *"Did technology create women, or did women create technology?"*
- Female agency and education are crucial for defending rights; teaching literacy allowed women in her village to potentially defend their rights.
- Technology, particularly AI software, is the most effective modern medium through which she can impact many people's lives.
- She finds empowerment in giving up past certainties ("I say I'm glad I gave up") to pursue her path.
## Concepts & Definitions
- **Revolution:** Elif's understanding of revolution is distinct from her father's approach.
- **Literacy:** The ability to read and write, which she used to teach women in her village to enable rights defense.
- **Blue Collar Digitalization:** The project focus involving Merve Yorgancılar, aiming to modernize blue-collar work.
## Mechanisms & Processes
- **Achieving Change:** Initial methods included teaching literacy, playing football, and performing in theatre to create change.
- **Professional Skill Acquisition:** Started by learning Python programming language by transferring printed PDF code examples to paper due to lack of internet/computer access.
- **Career Development:** Transitioned from high school/college programming classes to developing projects at Erciyes Teknopark.
- **Re-engagement:** The call from Elif after the pandemic (when she felt like giving up) spurred her to work harder on software, realizing AI technology was powerful.
- **Career Progression:** Worked at Vodafone (Mobile App Development team coach) $\rightarrow$ TÜBİTAK $\rightarrow$ Management in an innovation startup $\rightarrow$ Current role at Link (Content Manager).
## Timeline & Sequence
- **Age 8 (Second Grade):** Taught literacy to women in her village because they couldn't read or write.
- **High School/College:** Took Python algorithm classes while developing projects at Erciyes Teknopark.
- **Age 14:** Was able to earn money and live on her own.
- **"The Butterfly Effect" Project:** Worked for two years visiting village schools, oncology services, and schools for children with autism to explain science and technology.
- **Pandemic:** Couldn't go to the oncology unit where she ate salt with patient Elif.
- **Post-Pandemic:** Received a call from Elif, which brought her back into life and prompted deeper work on software.
- **Subsequent Period:** Moved to Istanbul due to business networks and started working at Vodafone, then TÜBİTAK, before management roles.
- **Present:** Working at Link and writing with Marmara University.
## Named Entities
- **Yozgat:** Village where Elif was born and raised.
- **Lilith:** Figure from legend created on equal terms with Adam, who left heaven for freedom and whose story is contrasted with Eve.
- **Sofia:** The person Elif’s life story is compared to, rather than Eve.
- **Mr. Umut / Umut Yıldız:** Contacted Turkish scientist from NASA who became a teacher/mentor.
- **NASA:** Organization associated with Umut Yıldız.
- **Kayseri:** City where Elif worked in theatre.
- **Erciyes Teknopark:** Location where Elif started developing projects.
- **Elif (Patient):** Patient in the oncology unit whom Elif accompanied.
- **Vodafone:** Company where Elif first worked professionally (Mobile App Development department).
- **TÜBİTAK:** Institution where Elif gained experience.
- **Link:** Startup where Elif currently works.
- **Merve Yorgancılar:** Colleague, 27 years old, whose goal is the digitalization of the blue collar.
- **Marmara University:** University with whom Elif is writing an article.
- **Mustafa Kemal Atatürk:** Figure thanked for allowing her to speak at the 100th anniversary of the Republic of Turkey.
## Numbers & Data
- Year/Stage of literacy teaching: **Age 8** (Second Grade).
- Number of people who knew how to read/write in the village: The women did not know how to read or write.
- Age of current colleague: **27** (Merve Yorgancılar).
## Examples & Cases
- **Literacy Project:** Taught literacy to women in her village, believing it would help them defend their rights.
- **Early Career Attempt:** Started playing football and theatre to create change.
- **Funding/Opportunity:** Texted Turkish scientists after moving to Kayseri, asking if she could make a change from a village background.
- **The Struggle:** Initially having no internet or computer access while developing software concepts.
- **Elif’s Support:** Acted as an older sister to Elif in the oncology unit, painting together and explaining science to give her hope.
- **The Turning Point:** The call from Elif five months after the pandemic started, when she had felt like giving up.
- **Professional Success:** Earning money by age **14** while independently developing.
- **Current Collaboration:** Writing an article with Marmara University regarding the digitalization of the blue collar.
## Tools, Tech & Products
- **Software:** The type of field where she realized she could impact many lives.
- **AI software:** Identified by Elif as a technology she could impact broadly.
- **Python programming language:** The initial language she learned.
- **PDF:** Document created by printing code examples, algorithms, and Python information.
- **Mobile App:** The type of product she is developing for women's health.
## References Cited
- **Lilith's legend:** The narrative framework used to introduce the theme of defying limitation for freedom.
- **The 100th year of the Republic of Turkey:** The context for the speaking engagement.
## Trade-offs & Alternatives
- **Initial focus (Literacy/Sport/Theatre):** Initial, analog attempts to enact social change.
- **Current focus (Technology/AI):** The chosen path because it offers a scalable way to impact many lives.
- **Mother's Work:** Her mother's work is cited as a source of pride and inspiration for her current existence and drive.
## Methodology
- **Education-based activism:** Starting by teaching literacy to build fundamental rights knowledge.
- **Technological self-education:** Learning programming by sourcing printed materials when digital access was unavailable.
- **Networking:** Using outreach to scientists (via phone) to secure mentorship and opportunities.
- **Deep Empathy:** Connecting with suffering individuals (Elif) to fuel the dedication to technology's potential.
## Conclusions & Recommendations
- Women must continue to create, especially in areas like health, art, and science, solidifying their historical role as creators of technology.
- Continue existing and working for the benefit of other women.
## Implications & Consequences
- The continuation of female agency and technological contribution is necessary for societal advancement, as demonstrated by the shift from physical/educational activism to digital/AI solutions.
## Verbatim Moments
- *"Lilith is a woman created on equal terms with Adam. A woman created before Eve."*
- *"But while they are living in heaven, Adam wants to make Lilith do everything. In a word, he wants to enslave her."*
- *"I want to tell you about my first project."*
- *"If I teach them to read and write, they might defend their rights, and fight against negative situations they face."*
- *"I can do this with sports."* / *"I can create change, I can be part of a change."*
- *"I only knew the name of Python."*
- *"I was trying to behave as an older sister as much as I could."*
- *"Elif’s call has brought me back into life."*
- *"Technology, especially, was something I could touch a lot of people’s lives."*
- *"We women continue to create everything and we will continue to do so."*
- *"I thank you to all the women in the world producing, existing in technology existing in art, women who are everywhere in life."*