Care Work and Mental Load Push One-Third of Women Out of the Workforce

The findings of the study, carried out in collaboration with Özyeğin University under Fiba Group’s “Yük Olmasın” project, were presented to the public at a meeting attended by representatives from NGOs and academia. The meeting, hosted by Fiba Group Chairperson Murat Özyeğin, Fiba Group Vice Chair Ayşecan Özyeğin Oktay, and Özyeğin University Rector Prof. Dr. Barış Tan, highlighted key findings of the research. Following the presentation, a panel discussion featuring Prof. Dr. İpek İlkkaracan from Istanbul Technical University, TÜSİAD Deputy Secretary General Ceren Aydın Ergün, and AÇEV Director of Corporate Partnerships and Advocacy Hasan Deniz explored potential solutions.

Women Shoulder Two-Thirds of Household Work

The study, aimed at measuring how gender roles affect daily care work and mental load and their impact on white-collar employees’ careers, reveals that domestic care work and mental load significantly limit individuals’ career opportunities and have important implications for work-life balance.

Based on face-to-face interviews with 2,628 white-collar employees across 11 cities, the research indicates that female white-collar workers in Turkey undertake 57% of domestic care work and 60% of the mental load. In contrast, these figures are 33% and 35% for men, respectively. On average, women handle two-thirds of household responsibilities in both perceived care work and mental load scores.

Notably, 41% of women state that they do not seek support from their partners for household chores. Common reasons for this include beliefs such as “I don’t think the routine will change” and concerns about “potential arguments or tension.”

Care Work and Mental Load Act as a Glass Ceiling for Women

Approximately 15% of married women with children report having declined at least one promotion offer due to care work and mental load, indicating that the unequal distribution of these responsibilities serves as a glass ceiling in their career advancement.

Furthermore, 31% of women have left their jobs at some point due to care work and mental load, compared to 18% of men. Additionally, 85% of participants express that workplace policies focusing on care work and mental load positively influence their preferences and motivation.

“Without Equality, Societal Development Is Not Possible”

In his opening speech, Fiba Group Chairperson Murat Özyeğin emphasized the importance of gender equality for societal development: “We must act together and continuously as public institutions, NGO’s, and the private sector on gender equality, which we see as the foundation of social and economic development. Women’s participation in the workforce and their advancement to prominent positions constitute one of the most significant forces shaping Turkey’s future. To achieve this, we must advocate for equality in education, access to opportunities, workforce participation, management, and, of course, in the often-invisible care work. Both individuals and institutions must recognize and address the disproportionate burden often shouldered by women. Today’s findings confirm that the business world also needs to develop more inclusive policies around care work and mental load,” the statement said.

Fiba Group Vice Chair Ayşecan Özyeğin Oktay emphasized that resolving the current inequality is only possible through awareness: “The unequal distribution of care work and mental load is a critical issue for women’s participation in social and economic life—not only in Turkey but worldwide. Gender roles unfortunately still shape how these responsibilities are shared in daily life, acting as one of the biggest obstacles to shared living and shared responsibility. These responsibilities most often fall on women. Equality is a goal we can only achieve if we recognize this issue together and work collaboratively to address it. At Fiba Group, we aim to implement new practices that will raise awareness and create impact in this area.”

Özyeğin University Rector Prof. Dr. Barış Tan, highlighting the importance of some of the study’s findings, stated: “We believe the research findings will pave the way for tangible change in both the business world and society. Gender equality unfortunately has not yet reached the desired or necessary levels across many platforms. While awareness within the business community has increased significantly, there are still many steps to be taken by stakeholders. Our hope is to achieve gender equality urgently across all areas of life. I call on all individuals and institutions with the power to influence and the responsibility to act to become part of this genuine transformation.”

“Yük Olmasın” Project Marks Its Second Year

Fiba Group, one of Turkey’s leading companies in terms of female executives and employees, continues to spotlight the unequal distribution of care work and mental load through its “Yük Olmasın” project, which champions equality in all areas of life. As part of this initiative, the Group launched the Impact of Care Work and Mental Load on White-Collar Employees research and aims not only to shape internal policies based on the data but also to spread awareness across the private sector.

In the first year of the project, Fiba Group ran an awareness campaign that included the publication of a guide and a survey to help individuals recognize their mental load. The awareness guide, the care work and mental load survey, and the campaign film released on International Women’s Day, March 8, can all be accessed at www.yukolmasin.com.tr.

Fiba Group continues its efforts on gender equality and inclusion—key pillars of its sustainability strategy—under the umbrella of the Fiba İşimiz Eşitlik Platform. The Group also works to promote equal opportunities in education through its founding and ongoing support of key social investment institutions: the Mother Child Education Foundation (AÇEV), the Hüsnü Özyeğin Foundation, and Özyeğin University.