Digital Transformation of Rural Women’s Cooperatives in Turkey: Challenges and Opportunities

Authors

Keywords:

cooperative, Turkey, digital transformation, women, digital literacy

Abstract

Introduction: This study examines the opportunities and challenges of digital transformation within rural women's cooperatives in Turkey. It aims to analyze the role these cooperatives play in women's social, economic, and personal empowerment, as well as the impact of digital technologies in this process. Methodology: The research is based on semi-structured interviews conducted in two culturally distinct villages: Bektaş (Çanakkale) and Atmalı (Adıyaman). Results: Women's cooperatives serve as important spaces for social interaction, economic autonomy, and the valorization of local know-how. Women actively integrate digital technologies to maintain social connections, promote their products, and strengthen their autonomy. Conclusions and Discussion: The process of digital transformation is hindered by unequal access to technology, low levels of digital literacy, and gender-based social norms. To ensure full and equitable participation, inclusive digital strategies are needed, particularly in terms of training, technical support, and accessibility.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Author Biographies

Emine Nazlı Aytuna, Université Galatasaray

She completed her bachelor's degree in political science and public administration at Marmara University, before obtaining a master's degree and a doctorate in political science at Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne University. Since 1995, she has pursued her academic career at the Faculty of Communication at Galatasaray University, where she is currently a senior lecturer. Her research focuses on political communication, persuasion, lobbying, the information society and social psychology. She teaches these subjects at bachelor's and master's level and develops interdisciplinary work linking the media, public opinion and political action.

Alparslan Ergün Özkaya, Université Galatasaray

He obtained his bachelor's degree in Communication from Galatasaray University and Bordeaux Montaigne University in 2022. He then pursued a master's degree in Public Relations at Istanbul University, which he completed in 2024. He is currently pursuing a PhD in the same field at the same institution. Since 2023, he has held the position of research assistant at Galatasaray University. His studies focus primarily on public relations, strategic communication and interdisciplinary approaches in media and cultural studies.

References

Agarwal, B. (2018). Capacity Building and Empowerment of Women in Climate Adaptation: A Key to Resilient Communities. Environmental Research and Sustainability, 12, 214-230. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ers.2018.02.014

Agarwal, R., & Chatterjee, M. (2022). Leveraging digital technologies to enable women’s co-operatives: experience of national insurance VimoSEWA Co-operative Ltd. Gender & Development, 30(3), 725-745. https://doi.org/10.1080/13552074.2022.2144615

Angade, K. (2024). Cooperative entrepreneurship in Morocco: The case study of women's cooperatives in the Souss Massa region (CIRIEC Working Paper No. 2024/02). CIRIEC – Université de Liège. https://acortar.link/9NMufm

Ashraf, N., Karlan, D., & Yin, W. (2010). Female empowerment: Impact of a commitment savings product in the Philippines. World Development, 38(3), 333-344. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2009.05.010

Atakan, A. G., & Çoban, A. (2022). Türkiye’de kadınların kooperatifler yoluyla güçlenmesi: Yasal ve yapısal stratejiler. Uluslararası Çalışma Örgütü (ILO). https://acortar.link/qIHlzN

Ay, S., & Kılıç, T. (2023). Coğrafi dijital uçurum: Türkiye’de dijital dönüşümün kentsel-kırsal, bölgesel ve cinsiyet eşitsizlikleri. Journal of Geography, 46, 111-122. https://doi.org/10.26650/JGEOG2023-1169477

Başaran, B., & Oraman, Y. (2022). Importance And Place Of Digital Marketing in Improvement of Woman Cooperatives. Horizons-International Scientific Journal, 30(1), 79-90. https://doi.org/10.20544/HORIZONS.A.30.1.22.P06

Bharti, N. (2021). “Role of cooperatives in economic empowerment of women: a review of Indian experiences”. World Journal of Entrepreneurship, Management and Sustainable Development, 17(4), 617-631. https://doi.org/10.1108/WJEMSD-07-2020-0095

Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), 77-101. https://doi.org/10.1191/1478088706qp063oa

Brogan, G.S. & Dooley, K.E. (2024), "Weaving together social capital to empower women artisan entrepreneurs", International Journal of Gender and Entrepreneurship, 16(1), 69-88. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJGE-03-2023-0076

Budi, F. T., Amungwa, F. A., & Manu, I. N. (2021). Women’s Participation in Agricultural Cooperative Activities in the Era of Liberalization in the North West and South West Regions of Cameroon. Asian Journal of Agricultural Extension, Economics & Sociology, 39(1), 136-152. https://doi.org/10.9734/ajaees/2021/v39i130517

Carini, C., Costa, E., Carpita, M., Andreaus, M., & Borzaga, C. (2022). World Cooperative Monitor 2022: Exploring the role of digital transformation in cooperative enterprises. International Cooperative Alliance. https://shorturl.at/dI2ot

Datta, P. B. & Gailey, R. (2012) Empowering Women through Social Entrepreneurship: Case Study of a Women’s Cooperative in India. Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, 36, 569-587. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-6520.2012.00505.x

Demircan Yıldırım, P. (2020). Kırsal Kalkınmada Kadın Kooperatiflerinin Rolü: Ahatli Kadin Kooperatifi Örneği. Erzurum Teknik Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü Dergisi, 11,

159-170. https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/pub/etusbed/issue/56704/773656#article_cite

Desai, R. M., & Joshi, S. (2013). Can Producer Associations Improve Rural Livelihoods? Evidence from Farmer Centres in India. The Journal of Development Studies, 50(1), 64-80. https://doi.org/10.1080/00220388.2013.849339

Dewi, R., Eliyana, A., & Anwar, A. (2022). The role of women entrepreneurship antecedents in supporting social and economic well-being. Problems and Perspectives in Management, 20(2), 438-447. https://doi.org/10.21511/ppm.20(2).2022.36

Ecevit, Y. (2021). Toplumsal cinsiyet eşitliğinin temel kavramları: Eğitim materyali. CEİD Yayınları. https://acortar.link/X0okQw

Ek¬men, M. E. (2020). Kadınların zor günlerden çıkış yolu: Kooperatifler. Türk Tarım ve Orman Dergisi. https://acortar.link/DIeULB

FAO-Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. (2023). The status of women in agrifood systems–Overview. Rome. https://doi.org/10.4060/cc5060en

FAO-Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. (2024). Women-led cooperatives support programme. Ankara. https://doi.org/10.4060/cc9567en

García Zaballos, A., Jorge, S., Dalio, M., Makwakwa, O., & Albornoz Basto, N. (2024). Digital inclusion strategies: A primer for Latin American policymakers. Inter-American Development Bank. https://shorturl.at/HLCaa

GMKA-Güney Marmara Kalkınma Ajansı. (2024). Güney Marmara Bölgesi'nde faaliyet gösteren kadın kooperatiflerinin eğitim ve rehberlik yoluyla güçlendirilmesi programı: Final raporu. https://bit.ly/4k8qtrv

Gómez Carrasco I. (2019). Women-led cooperatives in Spain: Empowering or Perpetuating Gender Roles? REVESCO. Revista de Estudios Cooperativos, 131, 48-64. https://doi.org/10.5209/REVE.63560

GTHB-Gıda, Tarım ve Hayvancılık Bakanlığı. (2012). Kırsal Alanda Kadının Güçlendirilmesi Ulusal Eylem Planı (2012-2016). Eğitim, Yayım ve Yayınlar Dairesi Başkanlığı. https://dspace.ceid.org.tr/handle/1/248

Hargittai, E. (2007). The social, political, economic, and cultural dimensions of search engines: An introduction. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, 12(3), 769-777. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1083-6101.2007.00349.x

Heeks, R. B., & Arun, S. (2010). Social outsourcing as a development tool. Journal of International Development, 22(4), 441-454. https://doi.org/10.1002/jid.1580

Hilbert, M., & López, P. (2011). The world's technological capacity to store, communicate, and compute information. Science, 332(6025), 60-65. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1200970

Huatuco Soto, G. I., & Robles Pastor, B. F. (2025). Estrategias de resiliencia para el afrontamiento de las perturbaciones del turismo comunitario en Puno, Perú. European Public & Social Innovation Review, 10, 1-18. https://doi.org/10.31637/epsir-2025-1377

Jorge-Vázquez, J., Chivite-Cebolla, M. P., & Salinas-Ramos, F. (2021). The Digitalization of the European Agri-Food Cooperative Sector. Determining Factors to Embrace Information and Communication Technologies. Agriculture, 11(6), 514. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture11060514

Jozami, M., Mora, C., Aguirre Negrete, L., Amigo, H., Merino, M. F., & Jimenez Orjuela, J. E. (2023). Exporting beyond forecast: 24 experiences of women leading companies and cooperatives in Latin America and the Caribbean. http://dx.doi.org/10.18235/0004992

Kantar-Davran, M., & Sevinç, M. R., (2021). Tarımsal Üretim ve Pazarlamada Kadın Kooperatifleri: Adana Örneği. Tarım Ürünleri Üretimi ve Tarımsal Pazarlama (pp.169-211), İksad Publishing House. https://bit.ly/3GOFVuM

Kasparian, D., Súnico, A., Grasas, J., & Cófreces, J. (2023). Socio-Labour Inclusion of Low-Income Women in the Digital Economy: A Comparison between Corporate and Cooperative Domestic Work Platforms. Social Sciences, 12(10), 579. https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci12100579

Kulak, E. (2011). Tarımsal üretim süreçlerindeki değişimin kırsal alanda kadın istihdamına etkileri: 1980 sonrası gelişmeler (Uzmanlık tezi). T.C. Başbakanlık Kadının Statüsü Genel Müdürlüğü. https://www.aile.gov.tr/media/2531/esrakulak.pdf

Kutay, T. (2022). Kırsal Kalkınmada Kadın Kooperatiflerinin Önemi: Türkiye Özelinde Bir Değerlendirme. Politik Ekonomik Kuram, 6(1), 119-150. https://doi.org/10.30586/pek.1020843

Lafont, J. & Saura, J. & Ribeiro-Soriano, D. (2023). The role of cooperatives in sustainable development goals: A discussion about the current resource curse. Resources Policy. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resourpol.2023.103670

Mayoux, L. (2002). Microfinance and womens empowerment: rethinking “best practice.” Development Bulletin, 57 (1), 76-80. https://bit.ly/4jM5laJ

Molyneux, M. (2002). Gender and the silences of social capital: Lessons from Latin America. Development and Change, 33(2), 167-188. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-7660.00246

Narayan, D., & Pritchett, L. (1999). Cents and Sociability: Household Income and Social Capital in Rural Tanzania. Economic Development and Cultural Change, 47(4), 871–897. https://doi.org/10.1086/452436

Nyandwi, M.R. (1998). Genre, coopératives et développement: Impacts de la participation des femmes aux associations coopératives agricoles et les rapports de genre. Le cas de la commune Ngoma au Rwanda [Unpublished doctoral dissertation]. Université Laval. https://giersa.openum.ca/files/sites/262/2025/01/1998_NYANDWI.pdf

ONU Femmes. (2021). Progrès vers la réalisation des objectifs de développement durable: Gros plan sur l’égalité des sexes 2021. https://bit.ly/43xI9GH

Özdemir G. (2013). “Women’s Cooperatives in Turkey.” Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 81, 300-305. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2013.06.432

Putnam, R.D. (2000). Bowling Alone: America’s Declining Social Capital. In Crothers, L., Lockhart, C. (Eds.), Culture and Politics. Palgrave Macmillan, New York. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-62965-7_12

Soysal, A. (2013). Kırsal Alanda Kadın Girişimciliği:Türkiye İçin Durum Değerlendirmesi. Eskişehir Osmangazi Üniversitesi İktisadi Ve İdari Bilimler Dergisi, 8(1), 163-190. https://dergipark.org.tr/en/pub/oguiibf/issue/5715/76503

Theeuwen, A., Duplat, V., Wickert, C., & Tjemkes, B. (2021). How Do Women Overcome Gender Inequality by Forming Small-Scale Cooperatives? The Case of the Agricultural Sector in Uganda. Sustainability, 13(4), 1797. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13041797

TOB-Tarım ve Orman Bakanlığı. (2023). Kadın Kooperatifleri Yurtiçi Deneyim Paylaşım Toplantısı ve Ziyareti Gerçekleştirildi. Bursa İl Tarım ve Orman Müdürlüğü. https://acortar.link/PePGto

TOB- Tarım ve Orman Bakanlığı. (2024). Ulusal Kırsal Kalkınma Stratejisi IV (2024–2028). https://www.tarimorman.gov.tr/TRGM/Belgeler/0Yayınlarımız/UKKS%20IV.PDF

TÜİK-Türkiye İstatistik Kurumu. (2024). Hanehalkı Bilişim Teknolojileri (BT) Kullanım Araştırması. https://shorturl.at/Wg7WN

van Dijk, J., & Hacker, K. (2003). The Digital Divide as a Complex and Dynamic Phenomenon. The Information Society, 19(4), 315-326. https://doi.org/10.1080/01972240309487

Wafae, T., & Sara, R. (2021). Women's rural cooperatives in Morocco: Challenges and collapses. International Journal of Interdisciplinary Gender Studies, 2(1), 85-103. https://acortar.link/vpx9w3

Warschauer, M. (2004). Technology and social inclusion: Rethinking the digital divide. MIT Press. https://doi.org/10.7551/mitpress/6699.001.0001

World Bank. (2021). Digital development note on gender equality. https://tinyurl.com/67dtcykh

Published

2025-09-10

How to Cite

Aytuna, E. N., & Özkaya, A. E. (2025). Digital Transformation of Rural Women’s Cooperatives in Turkey: Challenges and Opportunities. European Public & Social Innovation Review, 11, 1–22. Retrieved from https://epsir.net/index.php/epsir/article/view/1723

Issue

Section

Cover articles

Funding data

  • Galatasaray Üniversitesi
    Grant numbers Communication Strategies for Sustainable Development: Digital Media Literacy in Rural Women’s Cooperatives (SBA-2024-1222)