KIRSALDAN KENTE GÖÇ EDEN KADINLARIN TOPLUMSAL CİNSİYET ROLLERİNDE DÖNÜŞÜM: NİĞDE ÖRNEĞİ

Abstract

This research aims to deeply examine the transformation in gender roles experienced by women migrating from rural to urban areas in Niğde province. The study considers migration not merely as a process of spatial displacement, but as a multi-dimensional field of social transformation that reshapes individuals' daily life practices, social relationships, and identities. Within this framework, the effects of the migration experience on women's positions within the family, their effectiveness in decision-making processes, their level of participation in economic life, and their visibility in the public sphere are evaluated from a holistic perspective.

The research is designed based on a phenomenological approach, a qualitative research design. In line with this approach, the study focuses on the subjective experiences of women who have personally experienced migration and the meanings they attribute to these experiences. The study group consists of 15 women who migrated from rural areas to the city of Niğde and have resided in the city for at least one year. Data were collected through semi-structured in-depth interviews, allowing participants to express their experiences in their own words. The obtained data were systematically analyzed using thematic analysis methods, revealing common patterns, themes, and meanings. The theoretical framework of this research is based on feminist theory, social role theory, and modernization theory. This theoretical foundation allows for the analysis of both the structural and cultural dimensions of changes in women's gender roles. The findings show that the migration process does not create a one-way and homogeneous transformation in women's lives. Accordingly, while urban life provides empowerment and visibility for some women by increasing opportunities for education, employment, and social participation; in some cases, it has been observed that patriarchal norms and traditional roles are reproduced in the urban context. This dual structure is particularly evident in areas such as family decision-making processes, participation in working life, and social control mechanisms. In conclusion, this research offers a unique contribution to the literature by examining the relationship between migration and gender specifically in Niğde, an Anatolian city outside of major cities. By making visible the multifaceted nature of women's migration experiences, the study sheds light on both the academic field and the social support mechanisms that can be developed for policymakers.