Syrian migrant women’s participation in social activities: The case of Izmir

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the Syrian migrant women’s level of participation in social activities and to highlight the differences between Syria and Turkey in the context of adaptation to society, language skills, and gender. In this qualitative study, 26 Syrian migrant women who currently live in Izmir were interviewed. Four themes have emerged as a result of the obtained data: Activities that Syrian women participated in; barriers; supportive elements and activities they want to participate in. It has been revealed that factors such as socioeconomic status, time, having children, and changing gender roles with immigration play leading roles for participation in social activities. Additionally, their Turkish language skills and the time of their residency in Izmir have been influential on the adaptation to the environment.