Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
EURAM Conference, Bath, İngiltere, 18 - 28 Haziran 2024, ss.1-30
The remarkable rise in female engagement within the global workforce marks a pivotal shift, though women still confront enduring obstacles arising from their central roles as primary caregivers within families. This dynamic is particularly acute in developing nations like Turkey, where cultural norms and inadequate childcare support perpetuate a stark gendered division of labor. Here, women face immense pressure to balance domestic duties with professional pursuits, often resorting to a complex web of informal and formal care services to navigate this delicate equilibrium. Our paper delves into this nuanced interplay between childcare and employment, dissecting the intricate negotiations that shape familial decisions. Beyond mere personal choice, these decisions are shaped by a complex amalgamation of economic constraints, societal support structures, policy landscapes, and entrenched cultural scripts surrounding femininity and motherhood. Within the Turkish context, the scarcity of public childcare facilities and limited paternal involvement in child-rearing exacerbate the burden on women, compelling them to integrate domestic workers into their childcare strategies to maintain a fragile work-life balance. Drawing on 12 in-depth interviews, our study illuminates the delicate dance of autonomy and dependency characterizing the lives of these women at the nexus of work and family. Through the narratives of working mothers, we have highlighted the initial reliance on familial care, often disrupted by unforeseen circumstances, leading to a transition to professional caregiving. The study has also elucidated the emotional complexities inherent in the relationships between working mothers and their childminders, transcending conventional employer-employee dynamics. While these relationships may offer some benefits, they also present challenges, blurring the lines between professional duties and personal attachment. Furthermore, our research has uncovered the ambiguity surrounding the role of childminders, navigating the delicate balance between formal job descriptions and informal expectations. The preference for caregivers embodying maternal instincts over formal qualifications underscores societal valuation of emotional labor, yet remains largely unquantified and undervalued in the market economy. In synthesizing these experiences, our study prompts broader questions about the valuation of care work, the professionalization of caregiving, and societal structures shaping these constructs. In conclusion, our study contributes to a deeper understanding of the complexities surrounding childcare decisions among working mothers and emphasizes the need for comprehensive policies and societal support to foster a more equitable and inclusive environment for all caregivers.