Feminization of poverty among the elderly: based on national data in Türkiye
Yıl 2025,
Cilt: 23 Sayı: 1, 44 - 53, 25.04.2025
Kübra Ecem Turgutkaya
,
Filiz Abacıgil
,
Pınar Okyay
Öz
Objective: The number and proportion of people aged 65 and older in the world is increasing. The impoverishment of elderly women in Türkiye is becoming more visible, particularly due to gender inequalities.
This study aims to examine the effect of gender on sociodemographic characteristics and poverty among individuals aged 65 and over in Türkiye.
Method: This descriptive study, which is a secondary analysis of the 2018 Türkiye Demographic and Health Survey data, includes 4,263 Turkish citizens aged 65 and older.
Results: Elderly women have a higher median age (M=71; F=72), are less likely to be married/living together (M=85.0%; F=48.2%), and more likely to live alone (M=6.6%; F=17.0%) compared to men (p<0.05). They also have lower educational levels (no education/less than primary: M=29.6%; F=68.3%) and a higher proportion have no monthly income (M=8.7%; F=42.1%). However, there was no difference in welfare level between elderly women and men.
Conclusion: The low educational attainment, income insecurity, and living alone of elderly women in Türkiye, associated with gender inequalities, indicate that the impoverishment of women in old age is a significant problem that is likely to increase in the future. Ensuring nationwide gender equality and developing social policies and services to prevent the impoverishment of elderly women are crucial.
Etik Beyan
This is a cross-sectional study that involves the secondary analysis of the 2018 Türkiye Demographic and Health Survey (TDHS) national data. The 2018 TDHS was reviewed and approved by the Hacettepe University Ethics Committee. Permission to use the TDHS data was obtained from HÜNEE. All methods in the study were carried out in accordance with the relevant directives and regulations.
Destekleyen Kurum
This study has no support from any institution or organization.
Kaynakça
- United Nations. Ageing [online]. Available at: https://www.un.org/en/global-issues/ageing Accessed 20.05.2024
- United Nations. United Nation World Population Prospects 2022 [online]. Available at: https://www.un.org/development/desa/pd/sites/www.un.org.development.desa.pd/files/wpp2022_summary_of_results.pdf Accessed 20.05.2024
- TURKSTAT. Elderly Statistics, 2023 [online]. Available at: https://data.tuik.gov.tr/Bulten/Index?p=Elderly-Statistics-2023-53710&dil=2 Accessed 02.01.2025
- Türkiye Cumhuriyeti Aile ve Sosyal Hizmetler Bakanlığı. Yaşlanma Vi̇zyon Belgesi̇ [online]. Available at: https://www.aile.gov.tr/media/133623/yaslanma_vizyon_belgesi.pdf Accessed 20.05.2024
- UNDP. UNDP and the Concept and Measurement of Poverty. Issue Brief (October): 4 [online]. Available at: https://www.undp.org/sites/g/files/zskgke326/files/publications/ISSUE%20BRIEF%20-UNDP%20and%20the%20concept%20and%20measurement%20of%20poverty%20pc%20V2.pdf Accessed 21.05.2024
- UNDP. Unstacking Global Poverty: Data for High Impact Action. Global Multi-dimensional Poverty Index 2023: 1-2 [online]. Available at: https://www.un-ilibrary.org/content/books/9789210028325/read Accessed 21.05.2024
- Eryigit Günler O. Social Inequality in Aging. Current Perspectives in Social Sciences 2022; 26(4): 350-360.
- Buz S. Toplumsal Cinsiyet ve Yoksulluk Odağında Yaşlılık Olgusu. Hacettepe Üniversitesi Sosyolojik Araştırmalar E-Dergisi 2015; 1304: 1-10.
- Gönülaçan A, Umutlu S. Türkiye’de Yaşlı Yoksulluğu ve Yaşlı Kadınların Yoksullukla Mücadelesi̇: Pazarda Çalışma Örneği̇. Burdur Mehmet Akif Ersoy Üniversitesi Oğuzhan Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi 2020; 2(1): 73-83.
- Ak M, Közleme O. Yaşlı Yoksulluğu. Ahi Evran Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü Dergisi (AEÜSBED) 2017; 3(2): 197-208.
- TURKSTAT. Poverty and Living Conditions Statistics, 2023 (Corrected) [online]. Available at: https://data.tuik.gov.tr/Bulten/Index?p=Poverty-and-Living-Conditions-Statistics-2023-53841&dil=2#:~:text=Relative%20poverty%20rate%20was%2013.5%25&text=The%20at%2Drisk%2Dof%2D,0.9%20points%20compared%20to%202022. Accessed 02.01.2025
- Uçar C. T.C. Başbakanlık Kadının Statüsü Genel Müdürlüğü Kadın Yoksulluğu İle Mücadelede Sosyal Politika Araçları ve Etkinlikleri [online]. Available at: https://www.aile.gov.tr/media/2527/cerenucar.pdf Accessed 23.05.2024
- Karadeniz O, Durusoy Öztepe N. Türkiye’de Yaşlı Yoksulluğu. Çalışma ve Toplum 2013; 3(38): 77-102.
- Moghadam VM. The Feminization of Poverty in International Perspective. The Brown Journal of World Affairs 1998; 5(2): 225-249.
- Chant S. The ‘Feminisation of Poverty’ and the ‘Feminisation’ of Anti-Poverty Programmes: Room for Revision? Journal of Development Studies 2008; 44(2): 165-197.
- TDHS. 2018 Türkiye Demography and Health Survey [online]. Available at: https://dhsprogram.com/pubs/pdf/FR372/FR372.pdf Accessed 02.01.2025
- World Economic Forum. Global Gender Gap Report, 2023. [online]. Available at: https://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_GGGR_2023.pdf Accessed 06.12.2024
- TURKSTAT. Labour Force Statistics, October 2024 [online]. Available at: https://data.tuik.gov.tr/Bulten/Index?p=Labour-Force-Statistics-October-2024-53516 Accessed 02.01.2025
- UNWOMEN. Progress On the Sustainable Development Goals the Gender Snapshot, 2024 [online]. Available at: www.unwomen.org/sites/default/files/2024-09/progress-on-the-sustainable-development-goals-the-gender-snapshot-2024-en.pdf Accessed 06.12.2024
- Gillen M, Hyungsoo K. Older Women and Poverty Transition. Journal of Applied Gerontology 2009; 28(3): 320-41.
Yıl 2025,
Cilt: 23 Sayı: 1, 44 - 53, 25.04.2025
Kübra Ecem Turgutkaya
,
Filiz Abacıgil
,
Pınar Okyay
Kaynakça
- United Nations. Ageing [online]. Available at: https://www.un.org/en/global-issues/ageing Accessed 20.05.2024
- United Nations. United Nation World Population Prospects 2022 [online]. Available at: https://www.un.org/development/desa/pd/sites/www.un.org.development.desa.pd/files/wpp2022_summary_of_results.pdf Accessed 20.05.2024
- TURKSTAT. Elderly Statistics, 2023 [online]. Available at: https://data.tuik.gov.tr/Bulten/Index?p=Elderly-Statistics-2023-53710&dil=2 Accessed 02.01.2025
- Türkiye Cumhuriyeti Aile ve Sosyal Hizmetler Bakanlığı. Yaşlanma Vi̇zyon Belgesi̇ [online]. Available at: https://www.aile.gov.tr/media/133623/yaslanma_vizyon_belgesi.pdf Accessed 20.05.2024
- UNDP. UNDP and the Concept and Measurement of Poverty. Issue Brief (October): 4 [online]. Available at: https://www.undp.org/sites/g/files/zskgke326/files/publications/ISSUE%20BRIEF%20-UNDP%20and%20the%20concept%20and%20measurement%20of%20poverty%20pc%20V2.pdf Accessed 21.05.2024
- UNDP. Unstacking Global Poverty: Data for High Impact Action. Global Multi-dimensional Poverty Index 2023: 1-2 [online]. Available at: https://www.un-ilibrary.org/content/books/9789210028325/read Accessed 21.05.2024
- Eryigit Günler O. Social Inequality in Aging. Current Perspectives in Social Sciences 2022; 26(4): 350-360.
- Buz S. Toplumsal Cinsiyet ve Yoksulluk Odağında Yaşlılık Olgusu. Hacettepe Üniversitesi Sosyolojik Araştırmalar E-Dergisi 2015; 1304: 1-10.
- Gönülaçan A, Umutlu S. Türkiye’de Yaşlı Yoksulluğu ve Yaşlı Kadınların Yoksullukla Mücadelesi̇: Pazarda Çalışma Örneği̇. Burdur Mehmet Akif Ersoy Üniversitesi Oğuzhan Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi 2020; 2(1): 73-83.
- Ak M, Közleme O. Yaşlı Yoksulluğu. Ahi Evran Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü Dergisi (AEÜSBED) 2017; 3(2): 197-208.
- TURKSTAT. Poverty and Living Conditions Statistics, 2023 (Corrected) [online]. Available at: https://data.tuik.gov.tr/Bulten/Index?p=Poverty-and-Living-Conditions-Statistics-2023-53841&dil=2#:~:text=Relative%20poverty%20rate%20was%2013.5%25&text=The%20at%2Drisk%2Dof%2D,0.9%20points%20compared%20to%202022. Accessed 02.01.2025
- Uçar C. T.C. Başbakanlık Kadının Statüsü Genel Müdürlüğü Kadın Yoksulluğu İle Mücadelede Sosyal Politika Araçları ve Etkinlikleri [online]. Available at: https://www.aile.gov.tr/media/2527/cerenucar.pdf Accessed 23.05.2024
- Karadeniz O, Durusoy Öztepe N. Türkiye’de Yaşlı Yoksulluğu. Çalışma ve Toplum 2013; 3(38): 77-102.
- Moghadam VM. The Feminization of Poverty in International Perspective. The Brown Journal of World Affairs 1998; 5(2): 225-249.
- Chant S. The ‘Feminisation of Poverty’ and the ‘Feminisation’ of Anti-Poverty Programmes: Room for Revision? Journal of Development Studies 2008; 44(2): 165-197.
- TDHS. 2018 Türkiye Demography and Health Survey [online]. Available at: https://dhsprogram.com/pubs/pdf/FR372/FR372.pdf Accessed 02.01.2025
- World Economic Forum. Global Gender Gap Report, 2023. [online]. Available at: https://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_GGGR_2023.pdf Accessed 06.12.2024
- TURKSTAT. Labour Force Statistics, October 2024 [online]. Available at: https://data.tuik.gov.tr/Bulten/Index?p=Labour-Force-Statistics-October-2024-53516 Accessed 02.01.2025
- UNWOMEN. Progress On the Sustainable Development Goals the Gender Snapshot, 2024 [online]. Available at: www.unwomen.org/sites/default/files/2024-09/progress-on-the-sustainable-development-goals-the-gender-snapshot-2024-en.pdf Accessed 06.12.2024
- Gillen M, Hyungsoo K. Older Women and Poverty Transition. Journal of Applied Gerontology 2009; 28(3): 320-41.