Women’s Experiences of Single Parenthood and Poverty: A Qualitative Field Research

Öz

This study examines the experiences of single motherhood and poverty among women living in Atakum district of Samsun, Türkiye. The research is based on semi-structured in-depth interviews conducted with 25 women. The study analyzes the care and livelihood responsibilities of women who became single parents for various reasons, their participation in paid work, experiences with social support and alimony, health-related challenges, psychological pressures, and practices of empowerment. The findings reveal that, following the transition to single parenthood, women largely undertake the burdens of both unpaid care work and household provisioning on their own. They are predominantly employed in precarious and low-income jobs, have limited access to social protection mechanisms, and experience various forms of gender-based social pressures. Furthermore, the study demonstrates that experiences of female single parenthood are not homogeneous; factors such as educational attainment, social support networks, employment opportunities, and access to social security significantly shape women’s living conditions and coping strategies.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Female-headed single-parent families
• Women-headed households
• Poverty
• Gender
• Care work
• Social policy

Kadınların Tek Ebeveynlik ve Yoksulluk Deneyimleri: Nitel Bir Saha Araştırması

Öz

Bu çalışma, Samsun ili Atakum ilçesinde yaşayan tek ebeveyn kadınların tek ebeveynlik ve yoksulluk deneyimlerini incelemektedir. Araştırma, 25 kadınla gerçekleştirilen yarı yapılandırılmış derinlemesine görüşmelere dayanmaktadır. Çalışmada farklı nedenlerle tek ebeveyn haline gelmiş kadınların bakım ve geçim sorumlulukları, çalışma yaşamına katılım süreçleri, sosyal yardım ve nafaka deneyimleri, sağlık sorunları, psikolojik baskılar ve güçlenme pratikleri analiz edilmiştir. Bulgular, kadınların tek ebeveyn olduktan sonra bakım emeği ve geçim yükünü büyük ölçüde tek başlarına üstlendiklerini, güvencesiz ve düşük gelirli işlerde çalıştıklarını, sosyal koruma mekanizmalarından yeterince yararlanamadıklarını ve toplumsal cinsiyet temelli çeşitli baskılarla karşılaştıklarını göstermektedir. Bununla birlikte araştırma, kadın tek ebeveynliği deneyimlerinin homojen olmadığını; eğitim düzeyi, sosyal destek ağları, istihdam olanakları ve sosyal güvence gibi faktörlerin kadınların yaşam koşullarını önemli ölçüde etkilediğini ortaya koymaktadır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Kadın tek ebeveynli aileler
• Kadın reisli haneler
• Yoksulluk
• Toplumsal cinsiyet
• Bakım emeği
• Sosyal politika

Destekleyen Kurum

Bu araştırma için herhangi bir dış finansman alınmamıştır.

Etik Beyan

Çalışmanın alan araştırması için Ondokuz Mayıs Üniversitesi’nden Etik Kurul onay belgesi alınmış ve beyan edilmiştir. Tüm prosedürler bilimsel ve etik ilkelere uygun olarak gerçekleştirilmiş olup, atıfta bulunulan tüm çalışmalar uygun şekilde kaynak gösterilmiştir.

Teşekkür

Yazarlar, görüşmeyi kabul ederek değerli zamanlarını ayıran tüm tek ebeveyn kadın katılımcılara teşekkür ederler.

Kaynakça

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