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The political economy of women's cooperatives in Turkey: A social reproduction perspective

Author

Listed:
  • Meral Ugur‐Cinar
  • Kursat Cinar
  • Emine Onculer‐Yayalar
  • Selin Akyuz

Abstract

The article analyzes the viability of women's participation in women's cooperatives in Turkey. The prospects are evaluated by focusing on the sustainability of the cooperatives' economic activities as well as the recruitment and continued participation of individual women members. Taking a feminist social reproduction perspective, the article seeks to understand the underlying dynamics of women's participation in cooperatives, as this perspective enables us to analyze this participation as a process and captures the permeability between women's social reproduction duties, women's relationship with the state, and the economic market. Based on countrywide, semi‐structured in‐depth interviews with members of women's cooperatives in Turkey, we find that familial constraints as well as governmental policies and practices challenge women's economic development aspirations in the cooperatives, while social class deeply informs the challenges faced as well as the resources available to and strategies developed by women. The resulting analysis demonstrates that familial, social, and political issues related to social reproduction need to be addressed prior to focusing on the impact of cooperatives on women's empowerment. This is essential to ensuring the success of women's cooperatives and the continued provision of meaningful opportunities for women's participation.

Suggested Citation

  • Meral Ugur‐Cinar & Kursat Cinar & Emine Onculer‐Yayalar & Selin Akyuz, 2024. "The political economy of women's cooperatives in Turkey: A social reproduction perspective," Gender, Work and Organization, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(4), pages 1268-1289, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:gender:v:31:y:2024:i:4:p:1268-1289
    DOI: 10.1111/gwao.12925
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    5. Kiri Langmead, 2016. "Challenging the Degeneration Thesis: the Role of Democracy in Worker Cooperatives?," Journal of Entrepreneurial and Organizational Diversity, European Research Institute on Cooperative and Social Enterprises, vol. 5(1), pages 79-98.
    6. Naila Kabeer, 1999. "Resources, Agency, Achievements: Reflections on the Measurement of Women's Empowerment," Development and Change, International Institute of Social Studies, vol. 30(3), pages 435-464, July.
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