The Effect of Social Capital on Women Employment: A Study on Women Entrepreneurs in Tokat Province

Abstract

In this paper, the effects of social capital on women’s entrepreneurs which is an important way of increasing employment opportunities for women were examined in Tokat province. Within this framework, it has been aimed to suggest proposals about increasing women participation to employment as entrepreneurs and providing women entrepreneurs to utilize the social capital effectively in order to enhance their contiditions in employment. As a result of the study, it has been found that the social capital defined as strong ties with families, relatives and friends is effective on women employment as entrepreneurs when starting a business and sustaining it; but, weak ties defined as the cooperation with public institutions and organizations, non-govermental organizations, universities, professional organizations and other firms in the sector which provide greater and more chances have been found to be insufficient for obtaining resource and for their success compared to strong ties. Lower levels of education, responsibilities related to gender based occupational division cause women's social networks to be limited. Pursuing the policies which enhance the social capital of women entrepreneurs in order to provide them to benefit from the social capital effectively is highly significant for increasing employment by the way of women entrepreneurship in the labor market.