Feminization of poverty: Does it really exist in Turkey?

Abstract

This paper discusses two issues, the first being whether "feminization of poverty" in Turkey exists at all, and the second the reasons behind the feminization of poverty. The Household Budget Survey (HBS) for the years 2004 and 2006 serves as data to investigate similarities and contrasts between men and women in terms of poverty and other socioeconomic and demographic factors. Furthermore, econometric estimation techniques (logit and probit) have been employed to find out the determinants of poverty for men and women separately and together. Findings indicate that feminization of poverty does indeed exist in Turkey; however, a number of social, economic and demographic factors are universal determinants of poverty indifferent to sex.