Assoc. Prof. Dr. Banu KAVAKLI BİRDAL, Head ofAltınbaş University Sociology Department and Manager of Institute of SocialSciences was our guest in order to treat “Women’s Hand in Economy” in UGM, MHÜConference Hall on 11.10.2017, Wednesday between 12:30-13:30 within the scopeof Illuminating Meetings under the leadership of Ünsped Women LeadershipDevelopment Committee. Ms. Birdal stated that women must be empowered in orderto solve many economic and political problems and achieve sustainabledevelopment in all fields of life and this condition has not been actualized ineven the basic fields of societal life in our country as well as many countriesall around the world due to unequal power relations between men and women.  

Ms. Birdal who enlightened us on subjects suchas women initiative profile, rate of women’s participation into employment, registered employment rate between women stated that aseducation level of women rises women participate in work force more and thereis a positive relationship. According to 2015 data, while participation rate ofunder high school educated women’s participation rate into work force is 26.3%,high school educated women’s participation rate into work force is 32% and universitygraduate women’s participation rate into work force is 72.2%.

She stated that women are untapped resource ofeconomy and if men and women had made contribution to economy equally in TurkeyGNP per capita would be 30% higher.  Ms.Birdal stated that there are many factors such as women’s double duty, legal,societal and cultural issues preventing women to participate in work force. 

Ms. Birdal was given a plaque by WomenLeadership Development Committee members and meeting ended with photo shoot.