The Gendered Experiences of Return to Adygheya and Abkhazia: Dual Transnationalism Between The Caucasus and Turkey

Öz

This article analyses the gendered experiences of ancestral return migration from Turkey to Abkhazia and to Adygheya. There is an ongoing transnational movement of diaspora and return migrants between Turkey and the Caucasus. With strict and conflicted border regimes families are divided, having less opportunities to travel back and forth. Though in much fewer numbers than men, there have been women in constant mobility between their two homes, being involved in trade, keeping two halves of the family intact, or being part of diaspora political groups. Their migration and mobility are considered as a challenge to the traditional image of women in the community and to social norms. However, it is also seen as a ‘courageous act’ due to the policy restrictions on mobility and the limited knowledge of the homeland conditions by the diaspora. The study is based on data collected between 2005 and 2014 through qualitative research, in-depth interviews, participant observation and ethnographic research. The aim of the article is to bring the gender lens into analysis of return and dual transnationalism revealing how contested statehood and border regimes are experienced, navigated and seen differently by women and men.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• gender
• return
• migration
• Circassian
• adyghe
• abkhaz

Возвращение в Адыгею и Абхазию сквозь призму гендера: двойной транснационализм между Кавказом и Турцией

Öz

В статье анализируется гендерная специфика опыта возвращения на историческую родину — из Турции в Абхазию и Адыгею. Между Турцией и Кавказом продолжается транснациональное движение диаспоры и репатриантов. В условиях жёстких и противоречивых пограничных режимов семьи оказываются разделёнными и имеют ограниченные возможности для регулярных поездок туда и обратно. Хотя численно их значительно меньше, чем мужчин, среди постоянно перемещающихся между двумя «домами» были и женщины: они занимались торговлей, поддерживали целостность двух частей семьи или участвовали в деятельности диаспорных политических групп. Их миграция и мобильность рассматриваются как вызов традиционному образу женщины в общине и устоявшимся социальным нормам. В то же время это воспринимается и как «смелый поступок» — с учётом политических ограничений на мобильность и ограниченного знания диаспорой условий на родине. Исследование основано на данных, собранных в 2005–2014 годах с использованием качественных методов: глубинных интервью, включённого наблюдения и этнографического исследования. Цель статьи — привнести гендерную перспективу в анализ возвращения и двойного транснационализма, показав, каким образом спорная государственность и пограничные режимы по-разному переживаются, осмысляются и преодолеваются женщинами и мужчинами.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• гендер
• репатриация
• миграция
• черкес
• адыги
• абхаз

Adıgey ve Abhazya'ya Dönüşün Toplumsal Cinsiyet Bağlamında Deneyimleri: Kafkasya ve Türkiye Arasında Çifte Ulusötesilik

Öz

Bu makale, Türkiye'den Abhazya ve Adıgey’e geri dönüş göçünün toplumsal cinsiyet bağlamındaki deneyimlerini analiz etmektedir. Türkiye ve Kafkasya arasında diasporanın ve Kafkasya’ya dönüş yapmış olanların süregelen bir ulusötesi hareketliliği bulunmaktadır. Katı ve çatışmalı sınır rejimleriyle aileler bölünmekte ve gidiş geliş fırsatları azalmaktadır. Erkeklere kıyasla çok daha az sayıda olsa da, anavatan ve diasporadaki evleri arasında sürekli hareketlilik içinde olan, ticaretle uğraşan, ailenin iki yarısını bir arada tutan veya diaspora siyasi gruplarının parçası olan kadınlar bulunmaktadır. Bu kadınların göç ve hareketliliği, toplumdaki geleneksel kadın imajına ve sosyal normlara bir meydan okuma olarak görülmektedir. Ancak bu durum, hareketlilik üzerindeki politika kısıtlamaları ve diasporanın anavatanın koşullarına dair sınırlı bilgisi nedeniyle aynı zamanda “cesur bir eylem” olarak da değerlendirilmektedir. Çalışma, 2005-2014 yılları arasında niteliksel araştırma, derinlemesine mülakatlar, katılımcı gözlem ve etnografik araştırma yoluyla toplanan verilere dayanmaktadır. Makalenin amacı, dönüş ve çifte ulusötesilik analizine toplumsal cinsiyet perspektifini dahil ederek, tartışmalı devlet statüsünün ve sınır rejimlerinin kadınlar ve erkekler tarafından nasıl farklı şekillerde deneyimlendiğini, bunlarla nasıl başa çıkıldığını ve nasıl görüldüğünü ortaya koymaktır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• toplumsal cinsiyet
• çerkes
• geri dönüş
• göç
• Adıge
• Abhaz

Kaynakça

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