Gender is an important concept that expresses the roles, behaviors, expectations,
and identities assigned to women and men by society, and it is a topic that has been
frequently emphasized, discussed, and researched from the past to the present.
Unlike biological sex, this concept is shaped by culture and social processes. Over
time, we perceive the roles imposed on us by society as part of our character and
begin to act accordingly. However, when we look closer at the issue, we see that this
It is not just an individual matter, but a structural problem rooted in the patriarchal
system.
Gender inequality is a concept encountered in the economy, education, politics, and
many other areas. While in an ideal society, rights should be offered equally
regardless of gender, we see that today, women are predominantly affected by this
inequality. Especially in Türkiye, societal expectations cause this inequality to
increase.
Society assigns roles to women and men and expects compliance with these roles.
Those who go outside these patterns are judged by society. These roles, which are a
result of the patriarchal system, generally place the man in the position of being
“strong,” the “decision-maker,” and the “breadwinner,” while the roles attributed to
women are limited to domestic responsibilities and caregiving services. This situation
pushes the woman into a disadvantaged position while putting the man under serious
pressure.
The obligation imposed on men to “always appear strong,” “not show their emotions,”
and being the “sole financial provider of the family” creates a serious psychological
burden on men. These patterns restrict the man and cause him to see asking for help
as a weakness. This situation, in turn, affects both the man and the woman.
The inequality in question also appears in professional life. For example, in business
life, employers see women as more “costly” (due to reasons such as maternity
leave), and this leads to wage inequality between men and women. Those invisible
barriers we call the “glass ceiling” make it difficult for women to rise to management
levels. However, today these barriers are being overcome and decreasing. We see
an increase in female employment in Türkiye, and women are now present in
many professions.
The main source of this positive change is the increase in women’s participation rate in education. In the past, inequality in girls’ access to education has decreased; in fact, the rate of female students at the higher education level has surpassed that of male students. However, as beautiful as this rate is, it does not change the fact that men are luckier than women in finding jobs, and no matter how much we say there is an increase in female employment, it does not mean that this inequality is completely over; we can only say that there is a decrease compared to the past.
However, we must also accept that education alone is not enough. In order to combat
problems such as unemployment among degree holders or the inability of the educated
For women to participate in the workforce, a change in social mindset is essential. We
need an order where domestic chores and care responsibilities are not seen as
“women’s work,” where the necessity for men to be the sole source of income is
eliminated, and where responsibilities are shared fairly.
As a result, the elimination of gender roles and patriarchal pressures will relieve both
men and women and ensure that society becomes a happy one. For this, I believe
that the mindset causing this discrimination must change, and I believe that equality
will be achieved with the new generation.
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