A Comparative Study of Female Teachers’ Perceptions of Maternity Leave Rights: Zonguldak, Türkiye and Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Öz
This exploratory small-N study compares female teachers’ perceptions of maternity leave rights in two local contexts: Zonguldak (Türkiye) and Sarajevo (Bosnia and Herzegovina). Using the same set of questions, it examines maternity leave as a socially and institutionally constructed experience shaped by legal provisions, administrative procedures, school routines, workplace relations, and social norms. The sample includes 27 female teachers across preschool to higher education and across public and private sectors (Sarajevo n=10; Zonguldak n=17), all with maternity leave or pregnancy-related employment experience. Findings show that perceived adequacy depends less on the existence of legal entitlements than on the length of paid leave. Sarajevo participants generally viewed leave as more adequate and respected, yet still reported administrative frictions and reintegration difficulties. In Zonguldak, shorter paid leave and more frequent unpaid extensions increased work–family conflict and feelings of job insecurity.
Anahtar Kelimeler
maternity leave rights, female teachers, comparative qualitative study, work–family conflict
Destekleyen Kurum
Zonguldak Bülent Ecevit University
Etik Beyan
The formal ethics approval was granted by the Ethics Committee of Zonguldak Bülent Ecevit University Rectorate. I conducted this study in accordance with the Helsinki Declaration of 1975.
Teşekkür
Thanks
Kaynakça
- UNESCO. (2021). The state of gender equality in education: Snapshot from the GEM Report. Retrieved September 10, 2025, from https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000375700