The presence of elderly individuals in the home not only affects family structure but also plays a significant role in shaking the foundations of the patriarchal order. In Turkey, the increasing elderly population has become a factor that challenges not only family ties and economic relationships but also gender roles. Women bear the heaviest part of this patriarchal burden, as caregiving responsibilities are thrust upon their shoulders, overshadowing their struggle for liberation. These traditional roles deserve to be questioned!
Women’s Role as Caregivers: The Cruelest Burden of Patriarchy
Throughout history, women have been confined to the caregiving role constructed by patriarchy. This forced positioning not only limits their personal freedoms but also deprives them of economic independence. In Turkey, and many parts of the world, taking care of elderly family members at home remains a task imposed on women. However, this burden is no longer acceptable! Women cannot be the servants of patriarchy, disregarding their physical and mental health.
The constant care needs of elderly individuals prevent women from participating in the workforce, causing them to delay or entirely abandon their careers. This system, which pushes women to the margins of social life, is nothing more than an effort by the patriarchal order to maintain itself. Hindering women’s economic independence is one of the most ruthless ways of keeping them dependent on the system.
Changing Family Dynamics: Redistribution of Power Relations
The presence of elderly individuals in the family also upends patriarchal power dynamics. Younger generations of women, burdened with caregiving duties, are not only tasked with serving the elderly but also forced to redefine the balance of power within the family. Under the guise of sharing past experiences and knowledge, this system increases the pressure on women while reshaping their roles within the family.
As power relations within the family are shaped by the needs of the elderly, women who are unwilling to take on caregiving roles find themselves embroiled in family conflicts and subjected to patriarchal pressures. This situation strips women of their right to control their own lives, turning them into captives of familial obligations.
Gender Inequality: Women’s Labor Cannot Be Rendered Invisible!
Women who are forced to take on the bulk of elderly care are also responsible for managing children and household chores. These multiple roles prevent women from being active participants in public life and rob them of their economic independence. As patriarchy continues to push women out of social life, the inadequacy of policies related to elderly care exacerbates the situation.
Society must no longer allow women’s labor to be confined to caregiving roles or rendered invisible! Women must break free from these roles imposed by the patriarchal system and take back control of their lives. Strengthening social support mechanisms and ensuring that women are not left alone in this process should be part of the broader struggle for gender equality.
Solution: Inclusive Policies Against Patriarchy
The presence of elderly individuals in the family intensifies the patriarchal pressures on women, making it inevitable for social policymakers to intervene. A collective understanding of caregiving must be developed, where women are no longer solely responsible for bearing the burden of care.
- Education and Awareness: Awareness should be raised about the need for equitable sharing of caregiving responsibilities within families. Traditional roles imposed by patriarchy should not be placed solely on women, and everyone should be included in this process.
- Social Support Programs: Social support services for elderly care should be strengthened to lighten the caregiving burden on women. The expansion of professional caregiving services is crucial for women to reclaim their freedom.
- Women’s Economic Empowerment: Women’s participation in the workforce should be increased, flexible working conditions should be provided, and remote working opportunities should be expanded. Women must break free from the chains of patriarchy and achieve economic independence.
The rise in the elderly population is not just a demographic change but also a dynamic that deepens the patriarchal system’s pressure on women. Strengthening social support policies to combat this oppressive system, defend women’s freedom, and ensure gender equality is essential.