Migrant women employment in the tourism entertainment industry

The vast majority of immigrants are women in Turkey as a result of the feminization of the migration process manifesting itself throughout the world today. Women immigrants who come to the country are employed in various sectors and often work in shadow sectors and face many problems both in migration and working life processes. Significant majority of immigrant women workers in Turkey come from the Former Eastern Bloc countries and most of these women work in sectors such as domestic and nursing services, tourism, prostitution. A great majority of women working in the field of "entertainment" in the tourism sector also come from the Former Eastern Bloc countries and they face some other problems than the rest of the fields due to their appearance and prejudices against them. This study in which I have employed qualitative research method aims to reveal working conditions and problems in working life of immigrant women working in tourism sector, particularly in the entertainment branch of the sector in Turkey, and is based on the findings of my interviews with 15 immigrant women entertainers and dancers and 1 employer men working in the Bodrum region as well as my personal experience in the sector.