In Spite of Urbanisation, Economic Progress Eludes Turkey's Women

Experts say state and local institutions should increase efforts to integrate women economically and socially into Turkey's cities.

While many women have been among the masses that have moved from rural areas to cities, experts say urbanisation and the country's expanding economy have yet to improve women's social status.

Urbanisation typically provides more education and job opportunities, as well as more social and cultural alternatives for women, helping them gain a higher social status and become more independent. About 76.8 percent of Turkey's population lives in urban areas, but not all women are making social or economic progress.

Despite rapid urbanisation and transformation of Turkish cities, only 28 percent of women able to work in Turkey are active participants in labour markets.

"Urbanisation is not only about demolishing everything and building shopping centres instead," Ebru Boyacıoğlu, an associate professor of economic development at Thrace University and second chairman of the Istanbul-based Turkish University Women Association, told SES Türkiye. "Unplanned urbanisation and lack of infrastructure keeps women away from getting access to resources and markets.

"Cities grow in volume, but not in quality in Turkey," Boyacıoğlu added.

Boyacıoğlu said that new residential areas require more infrastructure and public transportation, more green areas, sports and rehabilitation centres, hospitals, schools, as well as a wide range of socio-cultural activities such as theatres, cinemas and museums. In Turkey, enlargement of cities does not go in proportion with the provision of such facilities, she said.

While many families migrate to big cities because of job opportunities, the job market for women is not strong, especially for women coming from rural areas who have few skills. High transportation costs combined with low wages make job opportunities in far-away locations unattractive, said Canan Güllü, chairwoman of the Turkey Women Associations Federation.

"Thus, immigrant women are constrained to consider job opportunities only around the area they live. This is a serious limitation," she told SES Türkiye.

Local administrations in big cities often compete with each other regarding activities targeting immigrant women, such as handicraft, dance and foreign language courses. However, none of these will assist immigrant women in lifting the level of their social surroundings, Güllü said.

"Taking women to excursions might actually hinder them [from expanding their circle]. It would rather be more helpful to help them find a job and become economically independent," and all the rest will follow, she said.

Güllü suggested alternatives to bring women into the labour market, including training and infrastructure to help them sell hand-made products on the internet, and tax reductions or subsidies for activities run by women.

She added that neither central nor local government institutions have gender-sensitive budgeting, which would plan public expenditures and designate policies considering differences in the needs, preferences and priorities of men and women.

Güllü said the nation's increasing conservatism makes it unlikely that gender issues will be addressed in the near future.

"There are laws [encouraging positive discrimination], most of which were approved in the past decade, but as long as directives are not given, they will not be applied," Güllü said.

She added that the Turkey Women Associations Federation is planning to provide training for all local administration authorities regarding gender issues and gender-sensitive budgeting, ahead of the March 2014 local elections.

Socio-cultural norms also are crucial when it comes to the challenges immigrant women face in large cities.

"The situation of immigrant women is better in urban than rural areas, yet it is by no means sufficient," Yıldız Uysal, a member of Istanbul Architects Chamber, told SES Türkiye.

Mothers educate their children in a way that encourages more advantageous treatment of boys, Uysal said.

"Traditionally at home, girls deal with the household and remain silent all the time, whereas boys can do whatever they want," she said, adding this leads men in Turkish society to take a superior attitude in relation to women. "Thus, women are also responsible for gender discrimination, too."

Uysal said increasing access to higher education is crucial for a smoother integration of immigrant women in large cities.

Source:Ses Türkiye