Civilian women initiative on way to becoming federation
Monday, March 3, 2008
İZGİ GÜNGÖR
HATAY- Turkish Daily News
A lack of education and solidarity among Anatolian women hamstring their efforts to enter and thrive in the workplace, speakers at the second annual Anatolian Women Entrepreneurs Summit told close to 200 listeners over the weekend in Hatay.
To overcome these obstacles, participants pushed to found a federation that would voice their grievances forcefully, promote cooperation and help them assume a greater role in Turkey's economic life.
Hailing from 18 provinces, attendees included businesswomen, scholars and representatives from NGOs discussed the problems faced by women entrepreneurs in their business ventures and their role in the Turkish economy.
That role, at present, is woefully modest, according to figures provided by Arzuhan Doğan Yalçındağ, Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (TÜSİAD) chairwoman.
"Around 25 percent of women actively participate in the workforce in Turkey," Doğan Yalçindağ said. "The figure is one of the lowest rates in the OECD countries and even less than half of the EU average."
A number of factors conspire to keep women away from the CEO's office
The social roles imposed on women; lack of day nursery and nursing homes as well as social transformations and migration to cities were the other reasons that deterred women in working life, according to her.
Women's role vital in politics and economic progress
"There is an urgent need to develop a national women's employment policy that will boost women's involvement in economic life, politics and decision-making processes," she said. "Without such a policy it is hard to increase women's employment, even if economic development exists, since their involvement in working life contributes to both the country's welfare and democracy, creating new job opportunities."
Turkey should develop a policy aimed at eliminating gender-based discrimination in the workplace and encourage women to become entrepreneurs, she added.
"Women shouldn't stay at home," said Aynur Bektaş of the Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodities Exchanges (TOBB). "They don't need to start big businesses or establish big companies. They can even sell their handicrafts.
"They should seek and seize new job opportunities, bone up on the relevant laws and find out about the funds that banks and NGOs make available for their business ventures," she added. "The more they are involved in business life, the more the economy will grow."
"Women's participation in working life increases as their education level increases," said İlhan Parseker of the TOBB.
Some 27 percent of professors, 36 percent of architects and 33 percent of lawyers are women, he said. Meanwhile, fewer than 20 percent of women who graduated high school are involved in working life, a number that increases to 69 percent among university graduates.
Solidarity needed
Bektaş also mentioned TOBB initiatives that encourage women to start and grow their own businesses. Centers throughout the country provide consulting services and help women take part in trade fairs and feature their work at stands. It has also formed a committee for women entrepreneurs, providing funds and skills training.
"We carry out projects aimed at enhancing women entrepreneurs' potential in both quality and quantity," he said.
Scholar Türkel Minibaş cited an interesting dichotomy, noting that 32 percent of Anatolian women go without headscarves, while 58 percent have never used a computer.
"You can be a professor, but the labor should be qualified and creative," she said. "Women should stand in solidarity with one another as entrepreneurs, share information and increase our numbers."
A final statement issued at the end of the meeting proposed forming a federation to further flex women's workplace muscle.
What women entrepreneurs think?
Many independent projects work to help women become entrepreneurs, Ferdane Bayıldıran, Adana Business Women Association chairman, told the Turkish Daily News.
"The only problem is, they're insufficient and not coordinated," she said. "There is no institutionalization."
Gülay Gül – a young, self-made entrepreneur who started her own business about 10 years ago – has worked in a number of fields; she now heads a large staff producing soap and shampoo for export at the two factories she owns in Hatay.
"I need emotional support from society," she said. "Hatay is a patriarchal region. At first, people asked me where my boss was. Now they are used to seeing me as a businesswoman. Institutions developing projects can't fully support new entrepreneurs. They support only if you prove yourself in your business."
Belgin Ünal, who owns a shoe store in Hatay, thinks men's support is vital, especially in a patriarchal society such as Hatay's.
"A fund is essential, but determination and persistence are more important. Women have to discover their potential. They also have to be good mothers in order to raise their children as new entrepreneurs."
© 2005 Dogan Daily News Inc. www.turkishdailynews.com.tr
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