Filiz Zeyrek/JINHA

ADANA – Women agricultural workers in Turkey's hot southern Çukurova region say they want to work the land not because they are forced to, but because they want to. They are hopeful that in this election, they will see a party that supports women agricultural workers enter Parliament.

"I wish I had a piece of land that belonged to me; I'd work there," said 65-year-old Meryem Çelik. Meryem earns 40 lira ($15) for a ten-hour workday. "I'm a Turk. Up until now, I've voted for all the parties but I've never seen any good come of it. This time, I'm voting for the HDP." The Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) is proposing that all women home-based workers receive a salary and insurance.

Emel Ülker migrated from the Kurdish province of Bingöl to Adana 20 years ago for work. She works in the fields now. She says she has also voted for a range of parties in Turkey.

"The parties always fooled us; our life gets worse every day," she said. "When it's time to get votes, they come see me. Afterward, they forget us. We don't know what party we'll vote for this time, but we want to try the HDP."

Emine Baturay, 44 and a mother of five, comes to the hot Adana fields every day in a vehicle packed with 35-45 people. She has worked in the fields for the last 20 years to support her family. "I'm working and at the same time doing housework and looking after the children.

"We want a normal life, too," said Emine. "Let there be an end to this mindset that condemns us to slavery.

(fk/cm)