A sociological study on women domestic workers: The case of Van city center

This study addresses the working conditions of female workers employed primarily in the cleaning sector, with a particular focus on the problems faced by daily female cleaners working for cleaning companies in the province of Van. In this context, a sociological investigation was conducted into the in-between/ambivalent status of these women—who, on the one hand, are forced to work outside the home to support their families, and on the other hand, are confined to domestic roles. As part of the research, in-depth interviews were conducted with fifteen women employed by different cleaning companies. The study was completed based on the qualitative data and findings obtained from these interviews. The results revealed that these women had generally migrated to the city recently, belonged to a low-income group both socially and economically, lacked social security, and were employed in flexible and irregular working conditions. They were seen to be struggling to balance domestic and professional responsibilities, were not receiving the value they deserved from society, and were often marginalized and disregarded. Moreover, the women stated that their work held no recognition in the eyes of society and was therefore considered unworthy or insignificant. The participants also expressed that, because they were compelled to work as daily cleaners, they frequently neglected their own housework and children. They reported experiencing mental, physical, and emotional exhaustion due to the repetitive nature of their jobs. It was observed that they mostly participated in the labor market through limited and part-time employment contracts. Additionally, the study attempted to draw a sociological framework through the lens of Marxist theory, feminist theory, and Bourdieu's concepts of habitus and symbolic violence. These theoretical approaches were used to shed light on the deep poverty and deprivation that underpin the multilayered problems experienced by women working in the cleaning sector.