Abstract Concepts such as woman’s role in the producti- on and reproduction of social life, woman’s labor and economical value of woman’s labor constitute a major part of discussions made by feminist approach that in- vestigates the...
moreAbstract
Concepts such as woman’s role in the producti- on and reproduction of social life, woman’s labor and economical value of woman’s labor constitute a major part of discussions made by feminist approach that in- vestigates the patriarchal structure. According to this approach, social division of labor is one of the reasons of inequality between man and women. Within this di- vision of labor, in one hand women are directed to do- mestic works and on other hand the economical value of these works become invisible. Continuation of daily life practices in the family is due the invisible works of women. Concordantly, it is hard to say that woman’s la- bor can receive the required value in working life.
The researches made about the improvement of wo- man’s employment in Turkey in recent years assert that the major reason of women’s limited existence in for- mal labor market is unpaid work load. Woman’s labor that becomes productive again is a type of labor, which is not identified as a work in many fields or seen as a “compulsory work”. Within this context, nonexistence of woman’s labor that plays an important rol in econo- mics is generally criticized. Özay & Memiş assert that “invisible” character of woman’s labor is rooted in two fundamental reasons. One is the requirement to susta- in the power of dominant approach of economics, the other is the fact that the invisibility is the result of basic dynamics of capitalist economy (2013, p.8). In fact femi- nist approach in economics depends upon the totality of human life and researches all activities in economical life indiscriminatingly. This study evaluates the partici- pation of woman’s labor to market to find an economi- cal value and the transformation of woman’s life within the context of Ankara’s district, Beypazarı.
Beypazarı located in 99 km northwest of Ankara is a prominent district with its population of 52 thousand, historical structures and its culture (p.1). It experien- ces a process in which women present their domestic productions to the market with the support of local administration since 90’s. Having a conservative fabric politically and culturally, Beypazarı has become a brand with its local products and historical houses. The dist- rict is also an important place with regard to tourism. Hard attractions such as cost and soft attractions such as life quality and competitive power of work force have become major factors in branding. Within this process, women have brought these factors into prominence. Also lives of women and products in market have been deeply changed. This study aims to explain the role of women in the change of district and the transformation of women. It also stresses on the importance of women’s labor that is mostly ignored in many economical studies and tells about how an Anatolian town has created va- lue-added with its own means.
During the process aforementioned, interviews have been made with women from Beypazarı to comprehend what women have done with whom through which go- als. In the study, findings acquired from in-depth in- terviews made with 24 people who produce with the support of Municipality of Beypazarı. 19 of them are workwomen, four women work in local administrati- on, one is man. Four question have been asked and the role of woman’s labor has been evaluated through the example of Beypazarı within the framework of feminist approaches.
1- What are the reasons that encourage the women to bring their domestic products together with the market?
2- How did women’s life practices change when their products have gained value?
3- How did this change affect the cultural and econo- mical life of Beypazarı?
4- How do the women perceive the other factors that affect the social, economical and cultural structure of Beypazarı since 90’s?
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In the interviews, it has been understood that the support of local administation was a major factor that encouraged the connection between women’s domestic labor and market. This fact is so important because it highlights the importance of it in the branding of local administration and empowerment of woman’s produc- tion. Besides, as the labor is paid, the self-confidence of women has increased, the concept of equality is unders- tood in a better way and the clothing has been changed. According to the statements of women, women have encouraged each other to present their products to the market, men who have not known the women’s labor began to respect to women’s works and to support them. In other words, the process have affected both women and man. All changes have been reflected to district within the context of economical and cultural trans- formation. As of 90’s, “locality has been explored aga- in”. As a result, Vocational School of Beypazarı has been established by Ankara University. Vocational courses have been opened. Besides, tourism has come into pro- minence. All of these factors have played a major role in the transformation of the district. According the sta- tements of women who were interviewed, those places in which the existence of women was condemned and appropriated by men before have been nonsexualized especially through the establishment of university and touristic visits. By these means, women have gained the opportunity to walk around in the places from which they have been excluded due to an inured “culture” for years and even to earn their livings in those places.
Keywords
Feminist Approach, Women’s Labor, Local Admi- nistrations, Beypazarı, Social Change
