The effect of patriarchal patterns on educated woman's perception of working life and family life

The aim of this study is to examine how patriarchal values affect the perception of employment in occupational life, family life and social life of educated women based on the stories of women having undergraduate or graduate degree and working in public or private sector in the province of Istanbul. Qualitative research method has been used to reveal patriarchal relations and gender inequality regarding how their experiences at home, in their marriage and business life. The fact that educated women work in more qualified occupations differentiate them from women working on wages. However, the effects of the inequalities that socializing individuals face at home, at educational institutes and business life in social structure with the roots of patriarchal ideology generating male domination became a common fate of women. Information and skills taught to women at home and educational institutes do not give them the chance of acting independently based on free thought. Educated women use the information they learnt and acquired within the context of their traditional roles. Education did not take the role of enhancing their self-confidence and courage. On the contrary education prepared them to their "natural" fate of being a housewife and a mother. Although women have higher education level and work in more qualified occupations, it is seen that they do not have the power to change gender roles in daily life practices. This study has addressed the discriminations, inequalities that women face in their daily lives in their social relations being the foundation for dominance and exploitation sources formed by patriarchy from a feminist perspective.