The Hidden Dimensions of Women’s Poverty in Türkiye: Developing A Gender-Sensitive Agency-Poverty Index

This study aims to create an inclusive poverty index using indicators that represent women’s experiences of poverty, focusing on agency power and autonomy. In addition to fundamental poverty dimensions, violence is assessed as a distinct dimension. Interviews with 162 married couples (324 individuals) provided insights into gender differences in poverty experiences within households. Principal Component Analysis determined the subdimensions and indicators of the Gender-Sensitive Agency-Poverty Index (GSAPI), which was then adapted to the Gendered-Human Development Index methodology. By employing both objective and subjective indicators, the GSAPI accurately reflects women's poverty experiences. This focus on agency-related indicators ensures inclusiveness and overcomes the limitations of traditional poverty criteria that evaluate outcomes rather than processes. Ultimately, indicators reflecting agency power concentrated on women’s experiences of poverty.HIGHLIGHTSGSAPI assesses multidimensional poverty using agency-poverty indicators among Turkish women.This study highlights non-economic aspects of women’s poverty.Data show high poverty despite economic access, suggesting deeper issues, especially in agency and violence.GSAPI guides policy by illustrating poverty’s varied impact on women.The study suggests that GSAPI can aid effective poverty reduction efforts.