Women's labor in the healthcare sector: Invisible conditions and union affiliation
In her article in Tıp Dünyası, Reyhan Tüfekçi examined gender discrimination in the healthcare sector, inequalities in management levels, and harassment data.
It was stated that despite women being the numerical majority in the healthcare sector, they are not represented at the same rate in decision-making mechanisms and face serious problems such as mobbing, harassment, and a patriarchal division of labor.
Women's Labor in the Healthcare Sector
Healthcare services largely rest on the shoulders of women. According to data, 65 percent of all healthcare workers, 83 percent of nurses, and 99 percent of midwives are women. Women also make up the majority of hospital cleaning workers.
Management and Representation Inequality
Although women are in the majority in the healthcare field, it is observed that they cannot take part at the same rate in management and representation mechanisms. While 45 percent of physicians are women, the proportion of women among chief physicians remains quite low.
Patriarchal Approach in Unions
According to research by the Healthcare Workers' Rights and Struggle Association, while the unionization rate of women is high, female representation in union managements remains at a very limited level and is managed with a patriarchal approach.
Mobbing and Harassment Cases
Female healthcare workers encounter cases of mobbing and harassment throughout their working lives. Research reveals that a significant portion of employees have been harassed and the vast majority do not officially report this situation.
Ergonomic and Equipment Issues
Despite the majority of women in the workspace, working conditions and protective equipment are designed based on the male body. During the pandemic period, inappropriate equipment was also used for female healthcare workers.
Patriarchal Division of Labor and Joint Struggle
A patriarchal division of labor is noticeable even in cleaning jobs and daily routines. Female healthcare workers must conduct a joint struggle to defend their rights and make their invisible labor visible.