The problems of women's social participation: Local government solutions

Absolute equality of women and men in social life is only possible with the actualization of democracy in real term. Women living in our country have struggled both in our country and throughout the world in order to get the equal rights. But both in our country and many other countries of the World, women have still been on the second position and can't use their own rights obtained equally. The fact that male-dominant system has maintained the social value judgements, traditional construction and the gender mainstreaming has obstructed that women use their own rights obtained actively. The way of preventing the discrimination to women is related to producting the policies sensitive to the gender mainstreaming both in the central and the local levels. That women have developed policies making life easier is highly important to provide the gender equality. In this study, background of why women have been on the second position historically is examined and the studies on women and approaches on the service concept especially as gender mainstreaming by the local authorities are based. Service for women of Kadikoy and Uskudar municipality, giving service in different political concepts, is examined so that the topic is more understandable. The main purpose in this study to examine the solutions and approaches on women's problems of the local authorities in the area of social, economical, political and management conceptions. It has been given many sources about that, various articles, theses and books have been examined by way of literature scanning. In addition, telephone interviews and face to face interviews with Women's City Council of Kadikoy , Kadikoy social affairs Directorate , Kadikoy Health Affairs Directorate, Kadikoy Municipality Directorate of Strategic Planning, Uskudar Municipal Social Affairs Directorate, Uskudar Municipality Shelter Officer and Uskudar Municipal USIM Center has been done. Research findings put down the fact that there are differences about approaches and practice on women who between both municipalities having different political understanding. KeyWords : Women, Gender Mainstreaming, Local Authorities, Local Services