This study, in which European Social Survey second round data for Turkey
are analyzed, explores the incompatibility of Turkish women’s educational
attainment and occupational participation rates. Education could be seen as
the primary determiner of the probability to be in the labour market;
contrary to what is seen in other countries; however, the Turkish case shows
a unique pattern. In Turkey, there is a simultaneously decreasing trend in
women’s occupational participation rates even though the number of women
in higher education has been rising, especially during the last two decades.
As there may be a number of different reasons for this pattern, this study
considers the impact of women’s and husband’s education together with
age, the presence of children and traditional attitudes on Turkish women’s
employment rates. The results display the fact that as the effect of women’s
education on their probability to be in paid work is offset when marital
status and children at home are considered; husband’s education affects this
probability negatively. This first result is related to the first hypothesis that
women tend to see education as an advantage for their domestic roles.
Related to the second hypothesis; considering the results showing high
educational homogamy for highly educated women; high education might
be a motivation for a highly educated thus a better provider for the future
family. Besides; the traditional attitudes of Turkish women, the double
burden they face in the public and private spheres, the lack of necessary
conditions in the work place and the unequal labour market circumstances
affect their position –equally as a result of their own decisions as well as
external impacts and pressures- in the labour market. As a conclusion, there
are current constructive and positive aspects of the situation that there are
progressive happenings in the labour market position of Turkish women
despite the current continuing negative facts, which are expected to become
different in the future with the help of positive social, economic and cultural
changes.