A sociological perspective on the impact of the COVID-19 epidemic on occupational choices in terms of gender: The case of Fırat University students

This study aims to examine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the occupational preferences of university students in terms of gender from a sociological perspective. The pandemic has led to significant changes in social, economic, and psychological areas at the global and national level, and has significantly impacted individuals' critical decisions such as career choices. By revealing the relationship between gender roles and occupational choices during the pandemic, the research aims to understand the transformations experienced during this period and to develop strategies for gender equality. The research was conducted with a mixed-method approach. The population of the study consists of students studying at Fırat University. The study sample consists of undergraduate students selected by a simple random sampling technique. Data were collected from 798 undergraduate students studying at Fırat University through online questionnaires and interviews. SPSS 22.0 software program and Microsoft Office Excel 2016 software program were used to analyze quantitative data, and content and descriptive analysis techniques were used to analyze qualitative data. The study evaluated the changes in the occupational preferences of male and female students during the pandemic period and tried to understand how these preferences were shaped in the context of gender roles. The results of the study show that the COVID-19 pandemic has led to significant changes in the social, economic, psychological, and professional lives of individuals. The pandemic not only affected individuals in terms of physical health, but also affected their occupational choices in the context of gender roles. While large-scale disasters such as the pandemic reshaped individuals' solidarity and social relations, they also made gender inequalities more visible. In particular, different effects such as female students' increased domestic responsibilities and male students' increased concerns about their ability to continue their professions in the future were observed. In addition, while female students' efforts towards gender equality increased during the pandemic, men were more oriented towards traditional roles. In addition, individuals needed psychological, spiritual, and material support the most during the pandemic. While family and social ties are among the most important elements in developing resilience, limited public support reveals the need for improvement in this area. In conclusion, in a period when the pandemic had significant effects on social dynamics, it is understood that some changes were observed in the context of gender roles and career choices. In particular, there have been significant transformations in individuals' perceptions of gender roles due to the reshaping of domestic roles and the impact of economic uncertainties. While these transformations had a more limited impact on gender-neutral occupational preferences, it was observed that they strengthened the impact of gender roles on occupational choices. In the context of the results of the study, it can be said that it is important to develop awareness-raising trainings, legal regulations and policies that prevent gender discrimination in order to ensure gender equality. In addition, while strengthening the presence of women in professional life, men should be encouraged to adopt egalitarian approaches. These steps will help sustain social solidarity and equality in large-scale disasters such as pandemics.