ABSTRACT
Agricultural production is the most significant role in rural areas for women, who constitute half of the population in Turkey. Women, who actualize approximately 50% of agricultural production, generally work at low-status and labor-intensive jobs. Women’s level of participation in production in agricultural areas varies by the size of the land and livestock owned by the family, income, and product pattern. However, women withdraw from agricultural production due to increasing mechanization in agriculture, and they turn towards housewifery. In families with less land, women exist at each stage of plant and animal production apart from working as seasonal workers. The most significant factors that affect women’s employment, entrepreneurship, and social status in rural areas are: education, social security, and lack of a strong presence in organization. There are significant problems in women’s participation in formal education, and persistence in continuing education. In Turkey, the highest numbers of uninsured/illegal employees are seen in agriculture. Almost all women working in rural areas are employed in the agriculture sector, and a good number of these women are not included within the social security system. For these reasons, it is crucial to raise awareness and to make efforts to remove the obstacles for women’s education. In addition, one of the most important ways to increase agricultural production and product quality, to improve the living standards of people in agricultural areas, and to ensure rural development, is strong and efficient organization. Besides insufficient organization and problems with cooperation, it is also observed that women’s level of participation in organization in rural areas is not satisfactory. Thus, an integrated approach should be adopted, and solutions that include more effective female participation should be employed. In line with these ideas, the place and empowerment of women in rural areas will be assessed, and suggestions for efficient solutions will be discussed in this chapter.
