Abstract:
After a brief overview of the Arab Spring and the large wave of migration triggered
by it, this thesis initially displays the needed concepts vital to nuance the
misunderstood phenomenon of feminization of migration, firstly through exploring
the validity of the “traditional narrative” of women’s movements in the past through
flashing a glance on the gender composition of global migratory movements.
Secondly, by offering an inclusive review of a diverse body of literature written on
gender and migration, it concludes that the scholarship on feminization of migration
has drifted away from its initial purpose of fighting gender inequalities, which
disrupted gender identity and created ambivalence for women. Thus, it calls for the
need for feminization of migration research and points of views rather than just
focusing on the feminization of migration.
A holistic overview is provided on the changing role of Turkey from a country of
origin to a country of transit and destination especially following the1973 economic
recession in Western Europe and the Middle East’s long-term conflicts which have
been ongoing since the First Gulf War. Then it sheds the light, particularly, on the
presence of Syrian women in the influx of refugees/migrants to Turkey during the
past decade.
The main objective of this thesis is to better the status of women refugees/migrants
by analyzing the gender-specific barriers that face females seeking asylum in Turkey
with the aim of understanding their situation in exile. It also displays the Istanbul
convention as the foundation stone of combating gender-based violence against
female refugees/migrants.
