Date

2010-06-01

Author

Kalaycıoğlu, Hediye Sibel
Beşpınar Akgüner, Fatma Umut

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This study examines new forms of international migration and the strategies developed by “single” male migrants, by taking into account the effects of these strategies on other family members who are left behind, especially the wives. The main objective is to understand the experiences and strategies developed by “single” male migrants, their wives and their children during the migration process. The research area consists of five towns connected to two districts (Kulu and Cihanbeyli) located in Konya where a high rate of “single” male migration has been observed since the 1960s. The study analyzes the difficulties experienced by the wives who are left behind and are married through unregistered religious ceremonies formed within the network of traditional relations. Overall, marriage is treated as a migration strategy. “Single” male migrants marry European female citizens as an easy way to obtain work permissions. The migration experiences, which have influenced the family relations and dynamics between migrating men, their wives and children, examined in this study are based on the narratives of the women/wives. Women’s changing perceptions of “femininity” and “masculinity” and of gender based division of labor within the family, are examined in this study with their possible effects on children. The fieldwork was conducted between June and August, 2009, which included a total of 30 in-depth interviews realized with women whose husbands have migrated to Europe after the 1990s. The interviewed women were reached through the snowball technique. The most striking finding is that women are empowered beyond the traditional structure in their participation into the social life, their role in the decision-making process about children’s education –type and duration of education– and their initiative on their own daily life experiences. However, such migration related changes in the social roles of women and family dynamics also turn into a painful experience for the women and children within the traditional structures and values. This migration strategy has been continuing for three generations in spite of all the troublesome experiences and difficulties. It is argued that major factors behind this ongoing process are the trans-national migration policies, unequal regional development, and traditional values/norms which put pressure on both women and men, although in different forms and dimensions. As a result of European migration policies, which increasingly try to restrict immigration, marriage with European women remains the only viable strategy to obtain work and residence permits. As a direct outcome, this form of migration is changing the balance and the dynamics of social patterns of a local community in Konya.

Subject Keywords

Man, Woman, Migration policies, Cihanbeyli, Europe, Arranged marriage, Gender roles, Family Dynamics, Trans-national migration, Konya, Kulu

URI

http://www.edebiyatdergisi.hacettepe.edu.tr/index.php/EFD/article/view/622
https://hdl.handle.net/11511/80582

Collections

Department of Sociology, Article