The Position of Women in Social and Economic Life: A Comparison between the EU and Turkey

Abstract

In this study, the participation of women in social life and their position in economic activity in Turkey was examined in comparison with EU countries. To examine women’s participation in social life we used the Gender Related Development Index (GDI), which was developed by the UNDP politic, and for economic life we employed the Gender Empowerment Measure (GEM). According to our results, the inequality between men and women in terms health, education, and welfare standards, which are considered in the establishment of the subject index, increased in Turkey. However, Turkey remains well behind EU countries including EU candidates in terms of the social participation of women. Results also indicate that, the same inequalities are still present in terms of the position of women vis-a-vis economic activity.