Implications of Migration on Emancipation and Pseudo-Emancipation of Turkish Women

Abstract

In many underdeveloped Mediterranean countries with few occupa? tional opportunities, external migration during the two decades from 1955-1975 became a matter of governmental policy, frequently regulated by international bilateral agreements. As such, external migration began at this time to represent a typical future of the post-war development. This migration was distinguished, however, by a predominantly nonindividually motivated, yet highly administratively organized character. The highly industrialized West European countries were the main targets for these migrant workers. These countries exercised full employ? ment policies and extended -vocational training, which resulted in a more facile upward mobility and in a large number of employment vacancies in the socially undesirable, tiresome and dirty jobs. Initially, these employ? ment factors led to the export of a significant portion of the male population. Later, however, as industry continued to employ out-of-date industrial equipment and lower wages, there was a rising demand for the employment of female migrant workers, particularly in the manufactur? ing, iron and metal industries. More specifically, female workers were concentrated in the sector of electronics, automotive industry, textile, chemical production, food processing and packaging as well as cleaning services.