The Basic Characteristics Of Female Employment In Informal Sector In Turkey: A Case Of Gonen

Year 2006, Volume: 8 Issue: 2, 68 - 85, 01.06.2006

Ali Rıza Özdemir Serap Palaz

Abstract

The employment status of Turkish women indicates that the share of women who works as waged and salaried workers are about 35 percent compared to 54 percent for men. The share of women working as self-employed is recorded at only 14 percent and the share of women working as family contributers is 51 percent (SIS, 2003). Statistics such these show that Turkish women have difficulties to work in formal sector because of both the limited job opportunities and family responsibilities, which are thought to be women’s own duties. In this study, we investigate the basic characteristics of women in informal sector using descriptive but detailed field statistics. We provide evidence from a field survey carried out with home-based women workers engaging artisan production; embroidery, weaving and basket-making in Gonen during the summer of 2004. Our examinations suggest that women who are middle aged, live in rural areas, make significant monetary contribution to family living, do not have enough education and are married participate more in informal sector works in Gonen. We also figured out that women’s lower education and dominant social roles as “wives and mothers” play important role in being marginalized in the informal sector

Keywords

Informal Sector, Home-Based Workers, Women, Women’s Labor Participation

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