Why Turkish women are opting out of the workforce
A deeply patriarchal culture, work environments unfavorable to a healthy balance with family life and internalized gender roles keep many women in Turkey uninterested in taking advantage of opportunities to work.
On March 4, Kadir Has University released the results of “Public perceptions on gender roles and the status of women in Turkey” study. Data gathered from 1,200 people in 26 districts show that for 77.8% of respondents, the most important problem women face in Turkey is violence. Among female participants, other burning issues included “inequality” (41.8%), “lack of education” (34.8%), “peer pressure” (30.7%) and “family pressure” (26.5%).
The study showed that 64.8% of female participants are currently unemployed and 70.2% have never held a job. In one of the most striking findings, 72.2% of women responded negatively to the question “Would you like to work?” The women cited as needing the following to consider working: 47.9% father/husband/family permission, 41.5% education and 27.9% a safe working environment.
