According to the Turkish Demographic Survey, women
represented 50.1 percent of the population in 2000. Although half of the
population in Turkey consists of women, their contribution to the
economic development of the country is relatively small. According to
stereotyped beliefs, the Turkish woman stays at home to take care of
children and household duties. This picture is supported by official
statistics, which reveal that only about a quarter of the Turkish female
civilian population, fifteen years and over, worked in 2000. Previous
studies indicate that full incorporation of women into the labour market
is widely assumed as an advisable goal of equality of opportunities and
efficiency (Tansel, 2001; Salido, 2002). Women’s full integration into the
labour market plays a key role for their personal and social development
and also serves to increase the general economic efficiency of the
country. Therefore, this paper will examine factors such as: women’s
personal characteristics and their status in the family, legal and
economic environment, which influence women’s decision to enter the
labour force in Turkey. In light of this analysis policy implications to
increase women’s labour force participation in Turkey will be specified.