An Explorative Study Regarding Women Muhtars’ Profession and Role Perceptions

Duru Sahyar Akdemi () and Aytul Ayse Cengi ()
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Duru Sahyar Akdemi: Anadolu Universitesi, Acikogretim Fakultesi, Kamu Yonetimi ve Siyaset Bilimi, Eskisehir, Turkiye
Aytul Ayse Cengi: Anadolu Universitesi, Iktisadi ve Idari Bilimler Fakultesi, Calisma Ekonomisi ve Endustri Iliskileri, Eskişehir, Turkiye

Journal of Social Policy Conferences, 2021, vol. 0, issue 81, 421-449

Abstract: Today, participation takes place through several direct participation tools and is also facilitated by representatives elected at the neighborhood as well as national levels. Involvement in neighborhood activities is the first step toward social participation; as representatives of citizens at the neighborhood level, muhtars participate actively in the local decision-making process. This study adopts the principles of the qualitative paradigm to investigate how women muhtars working in Eskişehir perceive their professions, attitudes and roles pertaining to their leadership positions and participation in various activities. Systematic and descriptive analyses were performed on the data obtained from interviews of 11 women muhtars. The findings revealed that muhtars primarily perceive their profession in terms of the gender attributes ascribed to the role. Women muhtars possess high levels of consciousness and believe that support from a woman’s husband plays a pivotal role in helping her select and then progress in the muhtar profession. In addition, the relationships that they establish with residents and the problem-solving and decision-making strategies they adopt reflect the characteristics of paternalistic—as opposed to participatory— leadership. Finally, the muhtars believed that they did not have sufficient decision-making powers in the city’s administrative process. Theoretical and practical suggestions were developed in line with the findings of the study.

Keywords: Public management; Women muhtars; Participation; Leadership; Paternalism (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ist:iujspc:v:0:y:2021:i:81:p:421-449

DOI: 10.26650/jspc.2021.81.871612

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