Does work protect? Employment status and deprivation risks among married women in Türkiye

This study investigates how married women’s employment status shapes both household-level and individual-level material and social deprivation in Türkiye. Using microdata from the 2021-2023 Turkish Income and Living Conditions Survey (ILCS), linear probability models are conducted separately for household and individual deprivation indicators by distinguishing between women employed as salaried, employer, self-employed, unpaid family workers, unemployed, and housewives, while accounting for other sociodemographic factors. The results reveal that insecure paid work or non-employment increases the risk of deprivation at both the household and individual levels. In low-income households, women who are unpaid family workers, casual employees, or housewives face significantly higher deprivation probabilities, especially regarding essential goods and social participation. In high-income households, material deprivation diminishes, yet social exclusion persists for non-working women, indicating that patriarchal norms continue to restrict women’s autonomy despite economic security. These findings highlight that mere increases in female labour participation do not guarantee women’s empowerment unless accompanied by structural and cultural changes that promote equality in both labour markets and households.