Social Work Graduates as Youth Not in Education, Employment, or Training (NEET) in Türkiye: An Intersectional Analysis

Abstract

This research investigates the experiences of social work graduates as youth who are not in employment, education, or training (NEET) by employing an intersectional perspective. In-depth interviews were conducted with 21 social work graduates who are unemployed for at least a year. The findings encompass three key themes: being NEET, the reasons for being NEET, and solutions proposed by social work graduates as NEET. The findings evaluate the shared experiences among participants while endeavoring to elucidate how these experiences diverge concerning various social categories. From an intersectional perspective, the results expose disparities in the NEET experience, considering factors such as gender, marital status, being a parent, class, social capital, geographical location, and societal perceptions. The research is expected to contribute to the body of knowledge concerning educated NEETs and the unique strength of it lies in the absence of previous investigations pertaining to NEETs as social work graduates. It is advised that individual and structural factors should be considered in analyzing the experience of being NEET and that micro, meso, and macro social work interventions should be developed in terms of these factors. Furthermore, future research endeavors can focus on evaluating the efficacy of interventions and conducting comprehensive mixed-method studies.

Keywords:

• Youth not in employment education or training
• NEET
• social work
• intersectionality
• türkiye

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1 The research mentioned are conducted in Sri Lanka, Russia, Türkiye and Moldova.

2 The Open Education Faculty is a part of certain universities. It operates as an educational unit where instruction is delivered using virtual environment tools, and students and academicians are not physically present in the same location. Students receive education through offline video content and participate in midterm and final exams. The diploma awarded at the conclusion of this program carries the same rights as diplomas obtained from universities offering traditional on-campus/formal education.

3 Although the authors do not aim to make any generalizations, it is important to note that the sample has certain limitations regarding diversity. There are no religious or ethnic differences among the participants, only two of our participants are married and have children and the sample does not include any migrants or disabled individuals. With this information in mind, the results section reflects diversity among participants, particularly in the intersectionality sections, focusing on gender, marital status, being a parent, class, social capital, geographical location and more.

4 Hereafter, quotes will be presented in the following structure: pseudonym, age, gender, and self-assessment of economic status. Since there are only two participants who are married with children, marital status will not be included. Please refer to Table 1 for more comprehensive information.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Meliha Funda Afyonoğlu

Meliha Funda Afyonoğlu is working as an Assoc. Prof Dr. in the Department of Social Work at the Selçuk University, Türkiye. Her main areas of interest are intersectionality, gender studies, migration, non-governmental organisations and ethics.

Rabia Ruveyda Yiğit

Rabia Ruveyda Yiğit is a research assistant in the Department of Social Work at the Afyon Kocatepe University, Türkiye. She completed her bachelor’s (2017) and master’s (2020) degree in the Department of Social Work at the Selçuk University. She is a currently PhD student at the above-named university. Her main research interests include welfare of children and youth, peer relationships, and social policy.

Gökçe Nur Mısırlı

Gökçe Nur Mısırlı, holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in social work and a bachelor’s degree in sociology. She continues her doctoral education in the field of social work. She is working as a lecturer at Amasya University. Child protection and qualitative research are her main fields of study.

Özkan Bilgin

Özkan Bilgin, holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in social work, a bachelor’s degree in sociology and child development, and a master’s degree in marriage and family counseling. He continues his doctoral education in the field of social work. He is working as a lecturer at Gümüşhane University. He has studies on child protection and expert witness practices in forensic social work.