Gender–Based Pressures and Income Distribution Among Employees in Türkiye

This research has a twofold purpose. First, it addresses the issues faced by employees in Türkiye in terms of the public and private sectors, with a focus on their experiences of gender-based pressure. Secondly, the analysis examined whether there is a gender dimension in the distribution of the income earned by employees. A microdata analysis was conducted using the 2023 TURKSTAT Life Satisfaction Survey (LSS) and Household Budget Survey (HBS). The frequency distributions of the data obtained through microdata analysis were examined. Within the scope of the study, 9,595 observations in the LSS and 34,496 observations in the HBS were analyzed. The analysis investigated the problems of public and private sector employees, the social pressure experienced by public and private sector employees, and the total income of employees by gender. According to the LSS findings, female public-sector employees have faced more problems compared to those in the private sector. Women in both sectors experience significant social pressure due to their gender, with the lowest level of pressure coming from their friends. In contrast, men report lower levels of gender-based pressure, with the highest pressure stemming from their political views. Furthermore, the research reveals that 1 in 10 individuals working in the private sector lack registration with the Social Security Institution. The study analyzed the distribution of individuals' total income using Gini coefficients and percentage share analysis techniques. The Gini coefficient was calculated as 0.394 for men and 0.422 for women, indicating a more unequal income distribution among women. The percentage share analysis also supports this finding. Policy makers need to implement policies such as creating legal frameworks against gender discrimination in employment, promoting positive action for women in the workplace, enhancing childcare-related rights, and raising awareness through educational programs. These actions are essential for making decisions that benefit employees.