Disabled Women’s Care Experiences in Turkey: Intimacy, Dependency, Independent Living

Dikmen Bezmez,Tom Porter

doi:10.16993/sjdr.852

Abstract

The literature on care relationships and independent living is extensive, although geographically limited, and focuses predominantly on the UK, Scandinavia and the US. This paper explores these themes in the context of Turkey. Through a case study approach, it analyses the experiences of three disabled women with distinctive care arrangements (paid professional, familial informal and an eclectic mix). Cases are discussed in relation to the Turkish context and the existing literature. The paper argues that the experiences of disabled Turkish women need to be understood in relation to the Turkish political economy of care (dependent on family support and undocumented migration), cultural aspects of care (shaped by gendered imagery) and the development of disability rights (characterised by limited independent living). Recognising such universal and locally specific aspects of care and independent living across geographies will contribute to a fuller understanding of disabled people’s experiences and enhance theories of care.

Highlights

Social care policy, care relationships and independent living (IL) have received extensive scholarly attention in recent decades, showing that the way support is conceived, funded and administrated will determine whether the rights of disabled people are realised or denied
This paper explores each arrangement’s troubling and positive aspects, as expressed by the disabled person; second, it relates each case within the contextual background of Turkey; it situates this discussion within the scholarly work on care, IL and personal assistance (PA)
In each case we discuss the relational dynamics of care and consider their implications for IL in the Turkish context

Summary

Introduction

Care relationships and independent living (IL) have received extensive scholarly attention in recent decades, showing that the way support is conceived, funded and administrated will determine whether the rights of disabled people are realised or denied. This variation includes the extent to which PA is enshrined in legislation, how it is funded, the style of service models and eligibility criteria (Nally, Moore & Gowran 2021). The Norwegian funding and administrative model, by contrast, supports more sustainable hybrid relationship combining friendship and paid care work. Despite the national differences indicated above, the international profile of PA generated by Mladenov (2020) shows that the markers of good and bad PA transcend borders and speak to universal concerns faced by all disabled people. PA and independence need to be understood, as something akin to a universal experience shaped by national contexts

Methods

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Discussion

Conclusion