Yasemin AÇIK
CEIS Board Member
“Creating change in a sensitive issue such as gender equality, which has been a serious struggle nationwide and even all over the world for many years, is a responsibility that requires intensive labor and overtime. The research data revealed with scientific data that there is a very long road ahead of us. But #BelimleGelecek is a project that has the power to accelerate the distances we can take on this path and to accelerate change.”
Could you tell us about the general outlines of the “#Benimle Gelecek” project that you are conducting specifically by ÇEİS, as one of the roof organizations in the cement industry?
#Benimle Gelecek was launched last year by the Cement Industry Employers’ Association (ÇEİS), one of the largest employer unions in Turkey. It is a corporate social responsibility project that aims to provide behavior and thought development on gender equality in the cement industry.
As a trade union representing the big cement family, we are carrying out the #BenimleGelecek project with the guidance and cooperation of the Advisory Board members, each of whom is an expert in their field. In addition to cement sector professionals; the board includes sociologists, cognitive science specialists, communication consultants, neuro researchers, journalists and experts in civil society studies.
With the aim of spreading awareness at a basic level, we delivered the “Eşitliğin Farkındayım” trainings to the office employees of the cement industry with the “Eşitliğe Değer” born from the Mother and Child Education Foundation (AÇEV). The training, the purpose of which is to enable participants to develop a basic level of awareness about gender, has been accessible to ÇEİS member institutions through online channels. I can happily say that our industry shows great interest in these trainings.
“Eşitlik için Harekete Geçiyorum” has been another training within the scope of first project phase. After the training, the participants were asked to lead the change in the focus on gender equality within the organization where they work, to keep the issue on the company’s agenda and to disseminate the works done in this area. Thus, each phase of the project is structured according to the needs and expectations of each institution.
In the second phase of our project, we are in the field with a volunteer project. In cooperation with Help Steps, we have launched a project that will be donated to the Women’s Labor Assessment Foundation. With the Gönüllü Adımlar project, every step taken by cement sector employees will turn into donations.
I find the transformation of men in this process valuable in order to internalize equality. For this reason, we thought that we were the right sector to create a solution on this issue and we set out with the goal of starting the inner change. Our next goal is to increase the employment of women in the cement industry…
Gender equality is one of the most important problems of Turkey. What is the extent of this problem in the cement industry? What do you and the companies do to prevent it?
Gender inequality is among the most important agenda items not only in Turkey but also in the world. Therefore, I do not think it would be correct to associate this question with the cement industry only. Our research was conducted all over the country. But the cement industry is one of the sectors with limited female employment… We are in contact with the entire Turkey from Edirne to Kars, we are a male[1]dominated sector, the vast majority of whom work on the production line. I find the transformation of men in this process valuable in order to internalize equality. For this reason, we thought that we were the right sector to create a solution on this issue and we set out with the goal of starting the inner change. Our next goal is to increase the employment of women in the cement industry…
Could you tell us in general about the results of the “Survey on Gender Stereotypes in Turkey,” which you conducted in cooperation with ThinkNeuro?
First of all, I would like to talk about how this research was conducted. How the data is collected is also very important. Within the scope of the project, a “Gender Stereotypes Perspective Survey in Turkey” was conducted with ThinkNeuro, the first neuromarketing company in Turkey, and a situation analysis was conducted. In this research, which was carried out using fNIRS, an optical neuroimaging technique and which is a first in both Turkey and the world, participants were exposed to some scales about gender equality. In the face of these scales, the participants’ blood oxygenation levels in their frontal cortex were measured with infrared rays. With this measurement, identification scores with expressions were revealed. According to the obtained score levels, the attitudes of the participants about gender equality were determined. Although there are optimistic data, the results of the research also showed that there is still a long way to go in terms of gender equality.
I do not believe that there is an excuse for violence ever. Throughout my private and business life, I have always given this advice to the young people I meet. When we look at the results of the survey, we can observe that we are sensitive to violence. However, we can still remain “neutral” to violence when it comes to honor[1]deception, etc. This was the thing that bothered me the most. Why haven’t we developed a strong and ruthless rejection mechanism against violence yet? I believe we can achieve this together with #BenimleGelecek.
We asked our scales that we used in the research to four different groups in total, both as daughter/son and as man/woman in two different contexts. When it comes to “violence”; in all groups, it was observed that the discourse of “daughter-son” was more effective than the discourse of “man-woman” and drew pro-equality conclusions. In other words, when we took the subject on the axis of daughter-son and put it into flesh and bone in a sense, we saw that the effect increased. It was really interesting data for me. We are a family-oriented society, and maybe we should prefer “messages through family” in order to better understand some sensitivities.
What needs to be done in general, what steps need to be taken in order for a woman to have the place they deserve in society?
I think education is very important to change the general point of view. Because we still, without realizing it, subconsciously make separate job descriptions for men and women. However, professions have no gender. Every job can be done by a man or a woman, there are only responsibilities. I support that talent and skill-based employment should be prioritized and women should be encouraged.
Again, there is another project called Gönüllü Adımlar that you have implemented together with the project. How is this project being carried out, what is its purpose?
Gönüllü Adımlar is a project that we have implemented with Help Steps in the second phase of our #BenimleGelecek project. With this project, we have launched a campaign that will be donated to the Women’s Labor Assessment Foundation. Every step taken by cement sector employees will turn into donations. This project will continue until March 8, International Women’s Day in 2023. Every step taken by all employees who downloaded the Help Steps application to their mobile phones in the relevant period will be donated to the Women’s Labor Assessment Foundation, which supports women’s efforts to improve their lives and strengthen their leadership in local development. Not only our employees, but also anyone who wants to support our project can participate in Gönüllü Adımlar.
We aim to support more women with Gönüllü Adımlar project, in which we aim to create a positive change and transformation in the field of gender equality.
I think education is very important to change the general point of view. Because we still, without realizing it, subconsciously make separate job descriptions for men and women. However, professions have no gender. Every job can be done by a man or a woman, there are only responsibilities. I support that talent and skill-based employment should be prioritized and women should be encouraged.
What kind of similar work will you do to raise social awareness about gender equality?
First of all, creating change in a sensitive issue such as gender equality, which has been a serious struggle nationwide and even all over the world for many years, is a responsibility that requires intensive labor and overtime. The research data I share here today revealed with scientific data that there is a very long road ahead of us. But #BelimleGelecek is a project that has the power to accelerate the distances we can take on this path and to accelerate change. On the other hand, at the end of the applications to be implemented within the scope of the project and the trainings to be organized, the results will be analyzed by various measurement methods. The strong impact that the project will have will be reflected in these results. We are hopeful about this, I believe that we will reach a much more promising point than the starting point in the first measurement. Our motto in this project is Equal Days #BenimleGelecek.
How does it feel to be a female manager in the cement industry? Are there any areas that you find difficult or that you think you are progressing more comfortably?
I think there is no gender in the job, profession or industry. There are people who perform their profession well or poorly. The important thing is labor and success. If labor is given without preconditions, it will bring success together. I have concentrated on the responsibilities of the position I have been in so far, rather than what it has added and made me feel personally. I thought and dreamed how I could benefit my colleagues, our industry, the society, and my country, which I love very much, I worked, I created. What I feel brings up the rear after all these; it is the happiness of realizing my dreams.
How should women act in order to make a career in a male-dominated industry like cement?
First of all, I suggest that they step into the sector unfearfully. It all starts with dreaming. They should not let any obstacles get in the way of their dreams. There is no failure for anyone who constantly updates themselves, fulfills the requirements of both the era and the industry. They should set strong goals for the sector they intend to work in, lock in goals to achieve the goal, give unconditional effort without prejudice, use time well, do very good research and feasibility, analyze today’s world and conditions well, use effective communication and information channels and technology well, put some social benefit and social responsibility into every job done. I think that success will come after they dare to take that first step for the job they believe they will do with love and put effort into it.
