Abstract

This study investigates the social-economic and demographic structure of wives. In particular, we were interested in, whether wives do home based work that makes a contribution to their family's income. According to the results obtained, wives who contribute to the family income are usually younger than 35 years old; their level of education and that of their husbands are at the primary school level and their incomes are very low. Also, the income contributions of wives having children less than 6 years of age are weak. Wives who have graduated from vocational schools or universities do not make any effort to contribute to the family income. It was thought that the circumstances that ensure the protection of the family such as a wives' contribution to household income and an increase in wives' participation in working life will ensure more opportunities for work and equity in the home for wives. However, we suggest that the Turkish government should produce a more detailed political policy that maintains the rights of the workers.

Key words: Housewives, home-based work, family income, working at home.