Social Sciences Research Journal, Volume 6, Issue 3, 1-11 (September 2017), ISSN: 2147-5237 1 ! The Support of Women Work within Cooperative Enterprises: Sample of Turkey Gülüm Burcu Dalkıran(∗) The cooperatives as universal principles are to achieve the purposes of established partners all over the world for business. This form of cooperation is not only for partners but also getting the benefits to constitute for Governments in alleviating the burden of job creation initiative at all. Besides being the most significant organisations symbolizing the social solidarity, cooperatives are established without any discrimination of society. In particulars, monitoring the perspective of women, to reduce unemployment, to evaluate the support of women at any age and in each region, home based working women provides important benefits, such as activate within cooperatives, starting women of the community is the best sustainable form with economic and socially desired direction. In this study, basic information concerning cooperation is expressed and it is focused on the benefits received by women from cooperative organizations and from women cooperatives majorly formed by female partners. In this perspective, the areas where the economic and social benefits of women cooperatives for the whole community should be intensified are discussed by examining the present conditions of these cooperatives in Turkey and in the world. Moreover, the contributions of national policies regarding women cooperatives in Turkey to women entrepreneurship are explained and the significance of cooperation in women labor is expressed in this study. Keywords: Women, Cooperative, Woman’s Cooperatives, Turkey, Employment. Introduction The inability of public sector with its present structure for solving global economic problems such as poverty and unemployment experienced in the world, the downsizing of public sector owing to the developments in globalization process and profit-oriented approach of private sector to the problems have resulted in the need for new partners in the solution process. In this context, cooperatives as well as similar institutions take the initial place in new economic, social and political approaches named as “social economy”, “third system” or “third sector”. Emerged in 1920s, cooperatives are neither state enterprises nor economic institutions acting in private sector. Apart from economic services of cooperatives, their protection of a specific group, their support for physical and ethical progress forming social welfare and peace, their efforts for increasing knowledge and disciplines of partners expand the practice area of cooperatives (Çıkın and Karacan,1994). Founded as a form of reaching collective aims through the collaboration of specific economic groups, cooperatives are organizations which lead to national policies for their encouragement since they provide sustainability for personal objectives in all countries and benefit for the whole society. The common problems encountered by women in economic, social and political life in the world are indicated in cooperative-pivoted research in both national and international platforms. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (∗)Yrd.Doç.Dr., Trakya Üniversitesi, Edirne Sosyal Bilimler Meslek Yüksekokulu, Öğretim Üyesi, [email protected]. ! ! Social Sciences Research Journal, Volume 6, Issue 3, 1-11 (September 2017), ISSN: 2147-5237 2 ! The positioning of women in economic, social and political areas far behind men, their exposure to undesired conditions like violence / abuse and their being affected by poverty at the highest level result in their being regarded as a disadvantaged group. Cooperatives can be effective in the solutions of all the problems encountered by women in economic areas such as low income and insufficient benefit from educational and health services in parallel to this case. The activities of women in economic life are possible to continue by an organization in the form of cooperatives specifically in women entrepreneurship. Definition, Scope and Universal Principles of Cooperatives Derived from the word “cooperatio” in Latin with the meaning of “collaboration”, cooperation is defined in many ways. In comprehensive terms, it means combining efforts and opportunities in collective action to reach a result desired by a large community, to gather (to coordinate) and to harmonize. Collaboration is a concept with a broad sense and its general meaning is working together for an aim. Collaboration in a cooperative means a voluntary union formed by people for production with objective and fair principles, marketing and protection against loss or the supply of other services without any state support (Çıkın and Karacan, 1994;1). According to W. P. Watkins, one of former managers of International Cooperatives Association (ICA), cooperative is defined as “an educational device benefitting from economic action”. Furthermore, it is a fact that cooperative in a modern context is a result of change in economic and social circumstances mainly altered by Industrial Revolution. In this sense, it is not a coincidence that England where Industrial Revolution initially occurred is at the first rank in contemporary cooperation (Koç,2001;1). The principles which are determined by a retail cooperative founded by textile workers in the town of Rochdale, England in this era are updated by ICA to form the last version and have gained universal quality. Principles of Cooperation Firstly emerged with the foundation of retail cooperative by textile workers through collecting one Sterling among in 1844 in the town of Rochdale near Manchester in England, principles of cooperation have greatly contributed to the beginning and development of world cooperation. Currently known as the source of international cooperation principles, Rochdale Principles are not the doctrines which are written by these workers for the first time. However, these principles are derived from the doctrines that are applied in Rochdale retail cooperatives (İnan, 2008). In order to prevent different interpretations of principles and make them understood in a better way, ICA changed the regulation firstly prepared in 1937 in line with the needs from time to time and reshaped it in its 31st Congress conducted in Manchester, England on 20-23 September 1995 to formulate its last version. Therefore, principles of cooperation lastly arranged in 1995 direct cooperation in the whole world. The definition of cooperation has been updated by the restructured principles. According to this, cooperative is “an autonomous organization which is formed by people gathering voluntarily to meet common economic, social, cultural needs and desires through an institution collectively owned and democratically controlled”. As fundamental values of cooperation; self-assistance, self-responsibility, democracy, equality, justice, honesty and solidarity get major prominence in this definition. Seven cooperation principles determined to apply these values are stated below (ICA,2017;1). ! ! Social Sciences Research Journal, Volume 6, Issue 3, 1-11 (September 2017), ISSN: 2147-5237 3 ! . Voluntary and Open Membership Co-operatives are voluntary organisations, open to all persons able to use their services and willing to accept the responsibilities of membership, without gender, social, racial, political or religious discrimination. Democratic Member Control Co-operatives are democratic organisations controlled by their members, who actively participate in setting their policies and making decisions. Men and women serving as elected representatives are accountable to the membership. In primary co-operatives members have equal voting rights (one member, one vote) and co-operatives at other levels are also organised in a democratic manner. Member Economic Participation Members contribute equitably to, and democratically control, the capital of their co-operative. At least part of that capital is usually the common property of the co-operative. Members usually receive limited compensation, if any, on capital subscribed as a condition of membership. Members allocate surpluses for any or all of the following purposes: developing their co-operative, possibly by setting up reserves, part of which at least would be indivisible; benefiting members in proportion to their transactions with the co-operative; and supporting other activities approved by the membership. Autonomy and Independence Co-operatives are autonomous, self-help organisations controlled by their members. If they enter into agreements with other organisations, including governments, or raise capital from external sources, they do so on terms that ensure democratic control by their members and maintain their co-operative autonomy. Education, Training and Information Co-operatives provide education and training for their members, elected representatives, managers, and employees so they can contribute effectively to the development of their co- operatives. They inform the general public - particularly young people and opinion leaders - about the nature and benefits of co-operation. Co-operation among Co-operatives Co-operatives serve their members most effectively and strengthen the co-operative movement by working together through local, national, regional and international structures. Concern for Community Co-operatives work for the sustainable development of their communities through policies approved by their members. Comparison of Cooperatives with Other Institutions