Life experiences of home caregivers in the context of gender: The Elazığ example

This thesis aims to examine the life experiences of individuals providing home care within the context of gender. Gender roles are significant socio-cultural constructs that shape the responsibilities individuals undertake and the labor practices they engage in. In line with these roles, home care services are predominantly carried out by women, which necessitates an evaluation of care labor within the framework of gender-based inequalities. In this study, the experiences of individuals who provide care for elderly, ill, or disabled persons are analyzed in relation to gender roles. The research was conducted using a qualitative research design; in-depth interviews were held with caregivers, and the participants' narratives were evaluated using thematic analysis. A total of 22 individuals—14 women and 8 men—were interviewed. Based on the data obtained from the interviews, three main themes and their sub-themes emerged: home care experience, the impact of gender on caregiving, and home care service policy. The interviews were analyzed using the MAXQDA software. The findings indicate that emotional, physical, and social burdens related to the caregiving process are largely borne by women, that this situation is intertwined with social expectations, and that care labor remains insufficiently visible both in public policy and in individual lives. The core findings of the thesis demonstrate that gender is a key determinant of care labor and that this labor is shaped by the gender regime. The study emphasizes that home care is not only a matter of individual responsibility but also a structural phenomenon where social inequalities are reproduced. In this context, the thesis reveals that making caregivers' life experiences visible is a significant step toward the development of social policies grounded in gender equality. Based on the data collected, the influence of gender roles on home care labor is revealed through the subjective narratives of participants. The research findings critically assess the invisibility of care labor and the gendered attribution of this labor to women. The thesis argues that home care services should not be considered solely a private domain activity but also a sphere where gender inequalities are perpetuated. Accordingly, the study highlights the necessity of re-evaluating care labor policies from a gender-sensitive perspective.