A sociological evaluation in the impasse of womanhood and disability: Home and work life experiences of women with intellectual impairment in their children

This research aimed to explain the home and work life experiences of women with intellectual impairment intheir children and their expectations from the social state in this direction, with their own discourse mechanisms and ecpressions. How women experience this process was analyzed based on disability and gender literature. The research was carried out with phenomenological pattern as a qualitative study. In this scope, data were collected through semi-structured interview technique by interviewing 13 women whose children were educated and participated in the labor market at Anadolu University Disability Research Institute Developmental Support Unit. The findings of the research show that the most fundamental factor that enables women to stay in the labor market is the unpaid care labor they receive from the traditional women's network. The majority of women who can get the needed support from the market also prefer to get free support from the traditional women's network. The main reason behind this is that they have to allocate a significant budget to meet the needs of their children, especially their special education needs.Women see education as the only hope for their children's independent life. While women perceive participation in the labor market as an advantage in some situations, they perceive it as a disadvantage in some situations. Expectations of women from the social state for their needs; organizing working hours, providing psychological counseling and support services, providing support for education and care services of their children.