Georgian immigrant women in Turkey: Ankara case

Abstract

This study addresses post-socialist Georgian immigrant women’s lives and experiences as immigrants in Turkey. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, many post-Soviet countries had serious threats in terms of economic development and political stability. These countries had to face with high unemployment and privatization because of these problems and also Georgia has been influenced due to these problems. In this way, especially, women of Georgia who try to find better ways for their economic conditions had to leave their homes, families and become a hero for their countries. Georgian female migrants have endured at least two enormous politico-economic changes in their lives: first, the transition from Soviet Georgia to a post-socialist, free market economy; second, the transition from Georgia to Turkey. Georgian women started to migrate since the 1990s to Turkey and Turkey has been a popular destination country for Georgian immigrant women. The reasons are the geographical closeness and flexible visa regime between Georgia and Turkey. The aim of this study is to listen to the personal experiences of immigrant women themselves, understand their working conditions and social life experiences in Turkey.