Gender Analysis of Labor and Resources in Greenhouse Vegetable Production in Turkey

The  aim  of  this  study  was  to  identify existing gender  roles  in  greenhouse vegetable production in Turkey. For this purpose, we conducted face-to-face interviews with the owners of 50 vegetable-producing greenhouses to understand the average household structures, activity profiles, information sources, training needs, access to resources, control over resources, and intra-household income stream. Activity profiles reflected the hours per day men and women spent on specific greenhouse production and household tasks.  We observed access to and control of production resources for men and women and contrasted the two genders. We also contrasted the intra-household income streams for the two genders. Compared to men, women had higher illiteracy rates and lower levels of education.  They also had heavier workloads, the difference resulting from household (reproductive activities) activities that were carried out mainly by women. Women’s and men’s workloads in the greenhouse (productive activities) were almost equal. Women received most agricultural information from neighbors, while men obtained most information from chemical salespeople. Notably, men received some information from the agricultural extension service—women received none. Women also had less access to and control over production  resources.  Furthermore, the intra-household income streams in the selected households benefited men more than women. The results of this study provide evidence for an unequal social structure and show that efforts should be made to increase women’s access to and control of production resources, including information from the extension service.