Women and the economic field: cooperatives and capital in Turkey

OpenAlex · English

This article aims to analytically dissect the interrelated reasons behind the gender gap in wealth accumulation. To do so, it examines how the accumulation of different forms of capital by women in the course of their lives affects women’s prospects in the economic field, thereby shaping women’s potential for wealth accumulation. Focusing on women’s cooperatives in Turkey through a Bourdieusian lens, the article shows that the patriarchal roles assigned to women result in asymmetries of not only economic but also social and cultural capital that lead to structural impediments against women’s endeavors in the economic field. We show, however, that despite these structural impediments, women are not only passive victims of these conditions byt instead develop strategies to cope with these disadvantages and cooperatives play a crucial role in that regard. Finally, through our case study, we demonstrate that both the constraints faced and strategies developed by women are informed by class and occupational background.