Underemployment, Unemployment, Gender and Changing Conditions of (Non)Work under Neoliberalism

Öz

Recent neoliberal restructuring of economies has reshaped conditions of work in various parts of the world. New forms of work demand employees to be flexible and able to adapt to changes in the labor market. Recent research has also demonstrated that neoliberalism not only reshapes conditions of employment but also of unemployment and underemployment. This article provides a review of the literature on the debate regarding the definition of neoliberalism and changing conditions of (non)work under neoliberalism. The paper aims to show that qualitative social science research can provide a fruitful base from which to analyze the way in which neoliberalism reshapes how individuals react to conditions of (non)work on the ground. For this, two examples of ethnographic studies are given which analyze local manifestations of changing conditions of (non)work under neoliberalism. The paper suggests that further research might do well to focus on reflections of these changing global circumstances in Turkey. Moreover, research conducted on how individuals adapt to changes in the labor market as well as the consequences of these changes for individuals’ social lives, educational opportunities and their access to healthcare in Turkey could contribute greatly to the international literature on neoliberalism and new forms of work.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Neoliberalism
• unemployment
• underemployment
• gender
• qualitative research

Eksik İstihdam, İşsizlik, Toplumsal Cinsiyet ve Neoliberalizmde Değişen İş(Yokluğu) Koşulları

Öz

Ekonomilerin son dönemdeki neoliberal yeniden yapılanması Dünya’nın birçok yerinde çalışma koşullarını yeniden şekillendirmiştir. Yeni çalışma biçimleri, çalışanların esnek olmasını ve emek piyasasındaki değişikliklere uyum sağlayabilmelerini talep etmektedir. Son araştırmalar, neoliberalizmin yalnızca istihdam koşullarını değil aynı zamanda işsizliğin ve eksik istihdamın da koşullarını yeniden şekillendirdiğini göstermiştir. Bu makale, neoliberalizmin tanımı ve neoliberalizmde iş (yokluğu) koşullarının değişmesine ilişkin literatürdeki tartışmalar hakkında bir derleme sağlar. Bu makale, nitel sosyal bilim araştırmalarının, neoliberalizmin bireylerin iş (yokluğu) koşullarına verdikleri tepkileri nasıl yeniden şekillendirdiğini analiz etmek için verimli bir temel sağlayabileceğini göstermeyi amaçlamaktadır. Bunun için de neoliberalizmle birlikte değişen iş (yokluğu) koşullarının yerel tezahürlerini analiz etmek için iki etnografik çalışma örnek olarak sunulmuştur. Makale, ileride yapılacak araştırmaların bu değişen küresel koşulların Türkiye’deki yansımalarına odaklanabileceğini öne sürüyor. Ayrıca, bireylerin işgücü piyasasındaki değişimlere nasıl uyum sağladığına dair çalışmalar ve bu değişimlerin bireylerin sosyal yaşamları üzerinde, eğitim fırsatları alanında ve sağlık hizmetlerine erişimleri konusunda doğurduğu sonuçlar üzerine Türkiye’de yapılacak ileriki araştırmalar, neoliberalizm ve yeni iş biçimleri hakkındaki uluslararası literatüre de geniş biçimde katkı sağlayabilirler.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Neoliberalizm
• işsizlik
• eksik istihdam
• toplumsal cinsiyet
• nitel araştırma

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