“A Home Away from Home”: The Case of the Yurt Homeland Association in Gebze

Abstract

This article addresses the question of how hometown associations (HTAs, hereafter) transform into meaningful spaces, or homes, for internal migrant groups in Turkey and how they are perceived within this context. While previous research has primarily focused on the functions, transnational and translocal interactions, and contributions of HTAs to the migrants’ origin, spatial factors have often been overlooked. Utilising ethnographic research conducted from 2013 to 2018 and a review of existing literature on the topic of 'home' studies, this study examines how migrants create a sense of 'home' in HTAs, with a particular focus on the role of face-to-face interactions, objects, and practices. The research findings demonstrate that the transformation of HTAs into a 'home' is achieved through the actions of the association leaders and the utilisation of home-making practices and objects. These processes and interactions are crucial for fostering a sense of familiarity and comfort among migrants. Furthermore, the article underscores that migrants seek this sense of belonging, which significantly influences their identities. Ultimately, the spatial analysis of fellow townsmen associations demonstrates that the associations are not merely a physical structure; they are also an emotional labour, the implementation of which, objects, and interactions play a crucial role.

Keywords

• Migration
• hometown association
• home
• identity
• belonging
• Giresun
• Gebze

“Memleketten Uzakta Bir Memleket”: Yurt Hemşehri Derneği Örneği

Abstract

Bu makale, Türkiye’deki iç göçmen grupları için hemşehri derneklerinin nasıl anlamlı bir mekâna, bir eve, dönüşmesini ve algılanmasını incelemektedir. Mevcut literatür, genellikle hemşehri derneklerinin işlevleri, ulusötesi ve yerel ötesi etkileşimleri ile bunlara katkıları üzerineyoğunlaşırken, mekânsal faktörlerin bu süreçteki rolü genellikle göz ardı edilmiştir. Bu çalışma, 2013-2018 yılları arasında yürütülen etnografik bir araştırmanın ve mevcut 'ev' çalışmaları literatürünü kullanarak, göçmenlerin hemşehri derneklerinde ‘ev' duygusunu nasıl inşa ettikleriğini, özellikle yüz yüze etkileşimler, nesneler ve uygulamalar üzerinden incelemektedir. Araştırma, hemeşehri derneklerinin bir 'ev mekânına dönüşmesinin dernek liderlerinin eylemleri ve göçmenlerin gündelik yaşamlarında kullandıkları nesneler aracılığıyla gerçekleştiğini ortaya koymaktadır. Bu süreç, göçmenler arasında aşinalık ve güven duygusu yaratmada kritik bir rol oynamaktadır. Makale ayrıca, göçmenlerin kimliklerinin şekillendiği bu aidiyet duygusuna dönüştüğünü vurgulamaktadır. Sonuç olarak, hemşehri derneklerinin mekansal olarak incelenmesi, derneklerin yalnızca fiziksel bir yapıdan ibaret olmadığını, aynı zamanda duygusal bir emeğin, uygulanmasını, nesnelerin ve etkileşimlerin önemli bir rol oynadığını ortaya koymaktadır.

Keywords

• Göç
• hemşehri dernekleri
• mekân
• kimlik
• aidiyet
• Giresun
• Gebze

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