The role of social capital in the participation of women in business life: A research on Manisa Organized Industrial Zone

Women's socio-demographic characteristics, personal characteristics, channels of providing information and skills in finding and maintaining a job, cooperation tendencies; considered as sources of social capital. In the career process of women and in their promotion to senior positions, the ways of gaining and using social capital differ from men. At the same time, women's difficulties in creating social capital and the effort they spend to cope with them are higher than men. In this study, the effect of social capital on women's success in their working life and career development and which resources they use for social capital acquisition were examined using qualitative research methods. Within the scope of the study, the relationship between women employees and social capital, interviews with women working in 21 companies operating in Manisa Organized Industrial Zone were carried out with semi-structured interview technique, and the interview data were subjected to content analysis. In this study, the importance of social capital for women is emphasized, the increase or decrease in social capital level depends on which behaviors of women and the effects of social capital on women's careers. In the research, it was observed that women could not fully benefit from social capital due to reasons such as gender inequality, family responsibilities, social prejudices, and social network effects; It has been concluded that the policies promoting gender equality and the changing work culture have positive effects on women's strengthening their social capital networks, long-term social network relations, and more opportunities to benefit from opportunities.