Do you think men and women have equal rights in society?
The structure we call gender refers to the roles and expectations that society assigns to men
and women because of their sex. These roles and expectations transform over time with the
developing world. When we look at past years, the lack of education for girls, the inability of
women to participate in working life, and women solely undertaking housework and childcare
are at the forefront of these inequalities. In such a society, a great economic responsibility is
also placed on the man. The man feels the burden of the entire family on his shoulders and
tries to do his best, perhaps more, to provide for the family.
When we go further back in time and look at the first Turkic societies, women had roles such
as governing the society, going to war, substituting for men from time to time, and using
weapons. The fact that the Hatun (Queen/Lady) always took part alongside the Hakan
(King/Ruler) in councils (Kurultay), rituals, and feasts, and that women were given a great
deal of authority, serves as evidence that women were held in high regard in Turkic society. In
the Ottoman Empire, however, women were respected in society, but their freedom in the
public sphere remained limited. While a matriarchal structure prevailed in the first Turkic
societies, a patriarchal structure dominated in the Ottoman Empire.
The development of societies, the provision of equal opportunity in education, the
advancement of technology, and the increase in schooling rates increase the labor force
participation rate of women. The participation of women in professional life has provided
many benefits in both economic and social life. With women joining the workforce, the
employment rate increases and, consequently, the unemployment rate decreases. In the long
run, this situation ensures economic growth and brings development to the country.
Furthermore, it lightens that burden on the man and provides order in the social sphere.
Women also face inequalities when they enter professional life. When there is a man and a
woman with similar qualifications who want to rise in their careers, and the man is hired for
the appropriate position for that job, this is an inequality in itself. This is called the “glass
ceiling.” However, women should also be able to be senior managers. In my opinion, women
have more analytical thinking skills than men and work with more detail and diligence. The
barrier to entry for women in certain professional fields or jobs is called “glass walls,” while
the faster promotion of men in professions where women are concentrated is called the “glass
escalator.”
The fact that women receive lower wages than men, and that women are given more unskilled
jobs while men work in more skilled and important jobs, is again an inequality. The fact that
the woman is seen as a cost factor for most employers, and the thought that the woman will
leave the job in cases such as marriage or having children, also puts women at a disadvantage.
Additionally, women are in a more disadvantaged position than men in social life. Women are
subject to more criticism due to stereotyped value judgments. Calling housework “women’s
work,” a woman’s clothing, and her going out late are still subjects of criticism. For men,
concepts like “men don’t cry” and “like a man” have pushed them to be more dominant.
Consequently, gender roles have evolved accordingly.
Returning to the labor market, if we look sectorally, women do not work in the mining sector.
Due to difficult working conditions and danger, only men are employed. This situation is an
inequality for men. In some sectors, women work more. For example, the proportion of
women in the banking sector has increased over the years, and more women than men have
been employed. Furthermore, there are more men in STEM fields, while there are more
women in education, health, and the arts.
If we look from the past to the present, men and women always encounter inequalities within
society. Professional life, social structure, and stereotyped norms bring inequalities with them.
In general, we would not be wrong to say that women are in a more disadvantaged position.
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