Thoughts of women dealing with agricultural activities in Niğde Ulukışla district on cooperativeization

Socio-economic studies conducted in our country reveal that the participation rate of men in economic activities is higher compared to women. However, in recent years, various policies and projects have been developed in order to strengthen gender equality and increase the place of women in economic life. The establishment of women's cooperatives has become widespread to encourage the active participation of women living in rural areas in production processes. These cooperatives make significant contributions to the development of women not only economic, but also social, cultural and individual. While women's cooperatives allow women to reveal their own economic potential, they also contribute to the economic vitality of the region where they are located. When women's cooperatives established in different geographical regions of Turkey are examined, it is seen that thanks to these structures, women participate more actively in production processes, become more visible in decision-making mechanisms and contribute significantly to family income. In addition, the fact that women in rural areas act in social solidarity brings with it the strengthening of their social status. In this context, the research in question aims to reveal the knowledge, attitudes and ways of thinking about the cooperative processes of women living in the villages of Ulukışla district of Niğde, where the women's cooperative has not yet been established. Thus, in line with the data obtained, it is aimed to develop applicable recommendations for the establishment of women's cooperatives in this region. In this study, questions were created by analyzing previous studies using the field research method. As a result of the research, all of the women stated that an agricultural cooperative special for women should be established, and the vast majority of them stated that such a structure would be welcomed by other women in the village. These findings show that women in the region have a high desire for joint production, solidarity and income.