Chapter 6: The Gendered Experience of Freelancing in the Turkish Communication Industry: A Comparative Analysis

In recent years, there has been a notable rise in the participation of Turkish women in the communication freelancing sector, significantly contributing to the expansion of the country's freelance economy. This chapter delves into the factors driving this trend and examines how women actively foster the growth of the communication freelance economy. Our study focusses on the experiences of Turkish female freelancers in the communication industry, scrutinising the presence of gender bias. Using a qualitative research methodology, the investigation includes in-depth interviews with freelancers specialising in communication. We conducted 16 in-depth, semi-structured interviews with public relations (PR) consultants, social media experts, marketing communication consultants, influencers, graphic designers, and visual communication specialists. The primary goal is to explore the relationship between gender roles and freelance work, highlighting gender-based distinctions in motivations for freelancing, concerns related to payment and job stability, and differences in gender and job characteristics. Insights from interviews provide a comprehensive understanding of the experiences of female and male communication freelancers. Data show that female freelancers have a more favourable working environment and acquire projects easier (depending on the industry) than their male counterparts. A surprising revelation emerges, indicating a notable preference for female freelancers in a significantly higher number of projects, resulting in greater income compared to their male counterparts. Importantly, this phenomenon seems specific to Türkiye, emphasising the need for further comparative analyses with other countries to ascertain its generalisation.