Kırsal Alanda Kadınların Üretim ve Haneiçi Karar Süreçlerine Katılımı: Uşak İlyaslı Köyünde Fenomenolojik Bir Araştırma
Bu çalışmanın amacı kırsal alanda yaşayan kadınların üretim ve karar süreçlerindeki rolünü kırsal kadının gözünden anlamaktır. Araştırmada nitel araştırma yöntemi desenlerinden fenomenolojik yaklaşım tercih edilmiş ve betimleyici analiz uygulanmıştır. Fenomenolojik çalışmalar katılımcıların deneyimlerinin ortak anlamını keşfetmeye çalışır. Bu çalışmada da katılımcıların gündelik rutinlerinin bu çerçevede anlaşılması amaçlanmıştır. Araştırma Uşak merkez ilçeye bağlı ve Uşak Organize Sanayi bölgesine yakın İlyaslı köyünde gerçekleştirilmiş olup çalışmada kartopu örnekleme yöntemiyle belirlenen 12 katılımcı yer almıştır. Katılımcılarla görüşmeler, araştırmacılarca geliştirilmiş olan yarı-yapılandırılmış görüşme formu aracılığıyla gerçekleştirilmiştir. Araştırma kapsamında belirlenen temalar, “hanelerin gelir kaynakları”, “kadınların gündelik rutinleri ve üretim sürecindeki rolleri” ve “kadınların hane içi karar süreçlerindeki rolleri”dir. Araştırmanın temaları kapsamında ulaşılan ana bulgular arasında İlyaslı köyündeki hanelerin gelir kaynaklarının tarım ve hayvancılıktan uzaklaştığı ve sanayi işçiliğine kaydığı bulunmaktadır. Köy haneleri gelir kaynağını farklılaştırma imkanı bulduğunda tarım ve hayvancılık faaliyetlerini “geçimlik” düzeye indirmektedir. Bu faaliyetlerin sorumluluğuysa kadının üzerindedir. Ancak kırsal kadının üretim ve yeniden üretim süreçlerindeki rolü karar alma süreçlerine aynı oranda yansımamaktadır.
Women’s Participation in Production and Household Decision-making Processes in Rural Türkiye: Phenomenological Research in the Village of Ilyaslı in Uşak
The aim of this study is to understand the role of women in rural areas in the production and household decision-making processes from the perspective of rural women. In the research, the phenomenological approach and qualitative research method. Research was carried out in İlyaslı Village (close to the Organized Industrial Zone) in Uşak, and 12 participants were selected using the snowball sampling method. The researchers were develop the semistructured interview form. The themes of the research are “income sources of households”, “women's daily routines and their roles in production process” and “women's roles in household decision processes”. The income sources of households in İlyaslı Village depend on industrial labor instead of agriculture and animal husbandry. When village households have the opportunity to differentiate income sources, they reduce agricultural and livestock activities to “livelihood” level. In the maintenance of these activities, the real burden is placed on women. However, the role of rural women in production and reproduction processes is not reflected in decision-making at the same rate.
The aim of this study is to understand the role of women in rural areas in the production and household decision-making processes from the perspective of rural women. In this study, descriptive analysis was performed, and the phenomenological approach was preferred. In phenomenological studies, the common meanings of participants’ experiences with the phenomenon in question are investigated.
In this study, it is aimed to understand the daily routines of the participants within this framework. The research was carried out in Village of İlyaslı in Uşak, close to the Uşak Organized Industrial Zone, and 12 participants were identified using the snowball sampling method. The interviews with the participants were conducted using the semi-structured interview form developed by the researchers.
Three main research questions were created to guide the development, implementation, and analysis processes of the semi-structured interview form: 1. What are the sources of income for families living in rural areas? 2. How do women in rural areas perform their daily routines and their roles in the production processes? 3. What roles does rural women play in household decision-making processes?
The codes extracted from the interviews form the research categories. Categories are the sub-dimensions of 3 main themes (“Income sources of households”, “Women’s daily routines and their roles in production processes” and “Women’s roles in household decision making processes”).
One of the main findings of the study is that women living in rural areas define themselves as “housewives” if they are not gainfully employed. However, housewifery boundaries have been expanded to include agricultural and animal husbandry activities. Even the women of İlyaslı Village, who worked as industrial workers, could not avoid such expanded household work. Although women sometimes complain, they view the household chores as “natural” in traditional gender roles. The women of İlyaslı village are aware that they have a heavy work load and that they do not have personal rights obtained through official working processes. However, they do not problematize this.
Due to the proximity of İlyaslı Village to industrial facilities, a part of the population works as industrial workers. Although the main source of income for this part of the population is not agricultural and animal husbandry activities, these activities are maintained at the “livelihood” level. This part of the population corresponds to the category of “village-legged proletarian”, which can be peasant again during crises.
The findings show that the women of İlyaslı village are not sufficiently effective in household decision-making processes. Although women state that their spouses consult with them on many issues, their memories of the interview process reveal that the consultation at question is “symbolic” and means obedience to the decision taken by their spouses. The roles of women in the decision-making process consist of the approval of the decisions often taken by their husbands and “explained” to them. The expression of a participant summarizes how the process works: “My husband consults with me, but still does not give up what he knows” (K10). As a result, it is difficult to say that women’s visibility in the agricultural production process reduces their dependence on husbands.
Improving the position of women in the household and in the social field is of importance that exceeds their limits. In addition to the production processes of women, efforts to strengthen participation in household decision-making processes have the potential to lead to comprehensive consequences, including the elimination of poverty and the expansion of human rights. In addition, the active participation of women in the household decision-making processes will contribute to equality and peace in the country as well as peace in the family
