Women need more equal rights, says Doğan chair

BURSA - Anadolu Agency

Turkey needs to give more equal rights to the women, Doğan Holding Chair Doğan Faralyalı says. AA photo

Turkey may be able to bridge the sizeable gender only by giving more equal rights to women, Doğan Holding Chair Begümhan Doğan Faralyalı has said during a conference organized by the Bursa Businesswomen and Executives Association.

“The female workforce participation rate is around 25 percent in Turkey, ranking it 105th among 180 countries. The same rate is 60 percent in Western Europe, and 80 percent in the Northern Europe. Unfortunately, the majority of our women, for the most part, can only work in the agricultural or services sector,” she said, noting that Turkey ultimately stands 124th among 136 countries in the world in gender equality.

Almost half of female employees are not officially registered as employees, according to the state-run statistics body TÜİK’s data. 

“The interesting point here is that the number of female CEOs in Turkey is very high. While the share of female CEOs is around 12 percent in Turkey, it is 6 percent in Europe. Of course, Turkey’s high volume of family companies is partially significant here. The main point here, however, is that the more equal rights [and educational opportunities] that are offered to women, the higher the possibility that they will be able to prove themselves,” she said.