Gökçe Uysal and Selin Köksal
The status of female-headed households is an important topic addressed by academic research and policymakers in terms of both gender equality and equality of opportunities for future generations. According to the 2015 wave of the Survey of Income and Living Conditions, the material deprivation is becoming more prevalent. The ratio of female-headed households that suffer from material deprivation increased from 31 percent in 2014 to 37.9 percent in 2015. During this period, the ratio of female-headed households that cannot cover unexpected expenses increased to 45.6 percent. Moreover, the ratio of female-headed households that cannot meet their weekly protein needs increased to 45.9 percent. In addition, the ratio of female-headed households that cannot sufficiently heat up their homes rose from 20.6 percent to 26.9 percent. This strong deterioration in material deprivation rates indicate that female-headed households need specifically designed policies. However, policymakers should pay attention not to weaken women’s labor market attachments while designing policies for female-headed households.
doc. ResearchBrief206
pdf. ResearchBrief206