Women in Turkey

This is the fourth post of 2016 about women in Turkey, written by our trainee. Enjoy reading!

It is a fact that women’s participation in the labor force is crucial in terms of economic growth and welfare. It is already known that women can achieve a lot when they are given an opportunity. However, in Turkey not everybody is clear about that. Unfortunately.

It is stated in a study by the research institute of the Confederation of Revolutionary Workers’ Unions (DİSK) that approximately 85,000 women are unemployed now and it is emphasized that this number will increase in the following year. And the 20% ratio of women in Turkey who have no job has actually increased compared to last year.

The main problem might be that unfortunately women are not considered as qualified as men, in terms of labor market. Men are seen as being more competent than women. Thus, women are not hired, even though they have a college diploma or a certificate.

Why women are still associated with domestic life, being excluded from labor market, even we have so many examples that prove that they can perform the same jobs as men and in the same professional way.

When will we abandon labels such as “women cannot do that job” and ignore the social gender roles that society sometimes imposes?

It may be hard to break these patterns, but it is not hard to do our best to give women opportunities. As women, we always should support other women in accessing the labor market. 

And women’s organizations are the key of this cycle; they have a crucial role in society.  They have the power to give those opportunities to unemployed women who are desperately looking for a job.

They have power. They can change the dynamics of labor market.  They can change society.