Sığacık market, one of the most popular market places in İzmir with its tangerine-smelling streets and stone houses, is the center of attention of local and foreign tourists coming to Seferihisar. In the Sığacık Neighborhood of Turkey's first "Quiet City" titled Seferihisar, there is the Kaleiçi bazaar not only homemade products are sold such a stuffed meatballs, pancakes, tomato paste, borek and pickles but also souvenirs and clothing are also sold.

 

We have talked with the women who sells their hand-made products in the bazaar regarding their labour struggle since 2009.

 

One of the most elterly shopkeepers of the bazaar is ŞEngül Sürük (77) welcomes her customers all day in her bench, which she opens together with her daughter. Sürük wakes up every morning at 5 AM to prepare her pancakes to sell with her daughter in the bazaar. Sürük told us that the sales have decreased in half.

 

'WOMEN ARE PRODUCTIVE'

 

Raziye Bilen (55) is another shopkeeper woman in the bazaar, who said that the bread they made with the local weath remains freash for a week. Bilen said, "I am happy with the sales of our bread. To work in here is good financially and spiritually for me. Contributing my family budget empowers me. Women are productive. There fore women should produce and not stay at home. Women should not just do the cleaning and the laundry at home all day."

 

SOLIDARITY IN THE BAZAAR

 

Stating that bazaar not only supports their budget, but also increases the social solidarity of the local people, Hacire Aydın (47) said, "I make stuffed meatballs and pickles to sell in the bazaar. I wake up early in the morning to make my preparations for the bazaar and we come to the bazaar with my husband with our products.  Sığacık bazaar has become the place, where we earn our living. When we have products left unsold, we share it with the law-income families. Everybody in the bazaar knows each other."

 

'LABOUR EMPOWERS WOMEN'

 

Saying that many women earn their living in the bazaar, Şenay Uzun (80) stated, "When I started working, my self-confidence increased. I was a house-wife before, I had no income, but now I am working and I can buy anything for my daughter. I could not achieve any of these if it wasn't for working in here. I raise a call to all the women, labour empowers women and being a strong woman is good."

 

MA/ Esra Solin Dal