Evolution of Labor Concepts and Feminist Perspectives

Abstract

The study explores the historical evolution of labour from household-based manufacturing to wage-based industrial systems, examining how the definition of work has changed in modern economies. From an economic perspective, work is perceived as a good or service that is traded in markets based on supply and demand. Traditional definitions of work, which emphasize wage labour, are challenged by feminist viewpoints, which emphasize the underappreciation of unpaid care and domestic work. Women's social standing and economic empowerment are restricted by this devaluation, which upholds gender inequality. To look into women's employment and labour participation in Istanbul and Izmir, Turkey, the research uses a census technique and deliberate sampling. The results show that women's paid and unpaid labour is influenced by social, cultural, and economic factors such as family history, education, and occupational segregation. These factors also reveal gendered labour dynamics. The study concludes that labour must be redefined to encompass not only paid employment but also a wider range of activities and societal benefits. To advance gender equality and women's economic empowerment in the context of changing global economies, gender inequalities in labour definitions and regulations must be addressed.