A new study by LUCSUS researcher Sinem Kavak, reveals the harsh realities faced by seasonal migrant farmworkers in Turkey, highlighting the exploitation of women through unpaid care work, low-paid farm labor, and traditional marital duties, all reinforced by community norms. This "double burden" on women is a critical issue, as their labor is essential yet undervalued. The exploitation extends to younger generations, with children often working to help sustain their families, perpetuating a cycle of generational labor exploitation. Traditional kinship networks and migration patterns further entrench these inequalities, making it difficult for these communities to escape the cycle of exploitation.
The study calls for a fundamental rethinking of how labor and social reproduction are structured in agrarian contexts, emphasizing the need to address gender and generational inequalities to break the cycle of poverty and exploitation.
The exploitation of women’s labour and bodies in food systems isn’t just a local or cultural issue, it’s deeply tied to global food markets and their volatility.
– The exploitation of women’s labour and bodies in food systems isn’t just a local or cultural issue, it’s deeply tied to global food markets and their volatility. The gendered nature of this exploitation is reinforced by economic structures that prioritize profit over people. To achieve a just transition and social justice in food systems, we must recognize and address the critical role of social reproduction embedded in the economic activity, says Sinem Kavak.
Read the full study: Seasonal migrant farm workers at the nexus of production and social reproduction in contemporary Turkey
