Vocational School of Justice
PRODUCTIVE WOMAN IS A “HAPPY” WOMAN
Producing woman is happier and more self-confident. IUE sociologists, who researched about producing women in Seferihisar local markets, found out that there was a significant increase in the life standard of women and many of them stopped taking anti-depressants after they started working.
Students of Department of Sociology, Izmir University of Economics (IUE) conducted a research on socioeconomic and sociocultural transformation of women participating in local markets in Seferihisar and Sığacık with co-operation of Seferihisar Municipality under the guidance of Prof. Dr. Nuran Erol Işık, The Head of the Department, and Asst. Prof. Dr. Derya Nizam. While 93% of women stated that their happiness increased after they started selling what they produced at the local markets, another 80% indicated that their household income increased.
The women also mentioned that they wanted training courses and seminars on how to present their products, customer relations, and learning a foreign language.
Students Birce Göktaş, Ekin Dorak, Saniye Aslı Gül, Aysel Kadriye Şirikçi, Dilek Bulut, Büşra Afacan, Osman Eryiğit, and Dilan Erdem shared the outcomes of the research with Tunç Soyer, Mayor of Seferihisar Municipality.
Mayor Tunç Soyer made the following assessment about the research findings, “Local management projects, when blended with university training programs, increase the applicability and feasibility of those projects. This study made us see our shortages and drawbacks, and provided us with a stronger road map. We will continue to take part in new projects with IUE Department of Sociology”.
‘Elating outcomes’
Neptün Soyer, Head of SS Hıdırlık Agricultural Development Cooperative, reported that women had a major role in the development of the county, and that they were very proud to have seen this as a scientific research finding.
‘Long live markets, bye anti-depressants’
Asst. Prof. Dr. Derya Nizam, Lecturer at IUE Department of Sociology, stated that rural development model by has been used in the county since 2010 to support female workforce, and she said, “Using public spaces more, becoming more visible, contributing to the household economy, and not having to ask money from their husbands make women happier. More importantly, seeing their elbow grease being appreciated and staying away from socializing based on gossip make them happy. In-depth interviews revealed that many women got rid of their depression by participating in these local markets, that they even stopped using anti-depressants. The women also feel content about being offered opportunities by Seferihisar Municipality, and they believe they play an important part in the development and promotion of their county”.
QUICK FACTS…
. 63% of the research participants reported that they started out to help their family budget.
. 93% of family members approved the decision of women to take part in local markets.
. 61% of the women reported that their life standard increased, while 88% reported their self-confidence increased. 70% of women said that people started to respect them more.