Analysis of women's poverty experiences with grounded theory approach

Abstract

Even though poverty is a general problem observed in many societies, increasing share of women among the poor in recent years has brought the concept of poverty of woman into question. While poverty influences all segments, it particularly influences disadvantaged groups such as women, elders, handicapped and children more deeply. Social inequalities between women and men in the society, exploitation that women are exposed to, unbalanced distribution of income and exclusion have an increasing impact on poverty. A woman in poverty is deprived of labor, education, fundamental rights and freedoms, healthcare services and social activities. If it is considered that the women who experience the problem of poverty have different perspectives and properties, then it is important to evaluate the poverty of women on a multi-dimensional basis. In this context, the purpose of the study is revealing poverty experiences, emotions, attitude and behaviors of women. In the study, profound interviews were performed with 30 women living in the province of Burdur and the data acquired were evaluated within the frame of grounded theory, which aims to develop a theory. At the end of the interviews, it is observed that ongoing poverty of women ever since their childhood continues in later periods of their lives. The noticeable findings of the study are that majority of women are exposed to physical, social and psychological deprivations due to poverty but try to cope with it for the sake of their children.