Analyzing the role of cooperatives in refugee women's access to livelihoods

After the 2011 war in Syria, Syrian refugees who migrated to Turkey have experienced difficulties in accessing many basic rights and services such as nutrition, shelter, health, and education. Women's experiences in this process have been more challenging than men's. In the employment market, refugee women are often exposed to discriminatory practices and gender-based violence in the workplace. In this context, cooperatives, as a social organization model in the fight against poverty, offer an alternative working space for refugee women. The study aims to analyze the role of cooperatives in refugee women's access to livelihoods. It also analyzed the difficulties refugee women face in the labor market and the changes in their socio-economic lives as a result of their involvement in cooperatives. Within the scope of the research, semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with refugee women who are cooperative members or cooperative employees, and the data obtained were analyzed. As a result of the research, it was found that refugee women earned economic income and accessed livelihoods through cooperatives, albeit limited, and contributed to their personal development by gaining skills in different fields. It was also found that cooperative activities contribute to social cohesion and have a positive impact on women's empowerment and gender equality. Keywords: Livelihoods, Migration, Employment Market, Cooperatives, Refugee Women