Working and living conditions of women working in the seasonal agricultural work: The case of Astara (Azerbaijan)

This research aimed to reveal how women's labor is positioned in seasonal agricultural work and to reveal the working conditions and life experiences of working women from a sociological and gender perspective. In line with this purpose, the use of women's labor in seasonal agricultural work in Azerbaijan and the problems faced by women workers in this process are examined. The research was carried out with the case study pattern as a qualitative study. In this context, data were collected through a semi-structured interview form and sociological observation technique by interviewing 15 women selected with maximum diversity and snowball (chain) sampling techniques in Astara province of Azerbaijan. The review period is August 2022-September 2022. In the light of the data obtained from the field research, descriptive analysis was made under four main headings: working conditions, health and insurance status, view of education and social position of seasonal agricultural worker women. As a result of the research, it is concluded that women seasonal agricultural workers do not have the opportunity to work in better jobs and they struggle to survive with a low wage and income under heavy working and living conditions both within the household and in agricultural production. Although they work and strive to earn income in seasonal agricultural work every season, they earn less and have no say over their earnings. In this respect, it was concluded that paid work in seasonal agricultural work does not create a meaningful transformation in their social and economic position and that women's labour is not valued properly.