Fragments of Women’s Modernization Experiences in a Company Town

Biray Anıl Birer Yanık

Makale detayları

Fragments of Women’s Modernization Experiences in a Company Town

Yazarlar:

Biray Anıl Birer Yanık

Yayıncı:

Ankara University

Ana Başlıklar:

Kadın Araştırmaları

Dergi:

Fe Dergi Vol.15 Issue 1, pp.96-121

Belge Tipi:

Makale

Yayın Tarihi:

6/2023

Belge Dili:

Türkçe

Document ID (Org No.):

2001294997

pISSN:

1309-128X

Anahtar kelimeler:

Özet:

 This study aims to understand womens experiences of space and the innovations brought about by the modernisation process in a provincial company town in the 1950s and 60s from a feminist standpoint perspective. Around Değirmisaz lignite colliery, which was operated by the state until the mid-1960s, social facilities were established with the increasing population. Over time, Değirmisaz became a company town with its own unique conditions. The history of company towns in Turkey and around the world, whether designed and built or naturally formed, runs concurrently with the history of modernisation. Interpreting the process of modernisation as being the various ways in which ordinary people experience the new conditions brought about by modernity, a qualitative research was conducted from a feminist perspective and focused on how twelve women who spent their teenage years in Değirmisaz experienced these conditions in everyday life. In the narratives of women from Değirmisaz, not only interactions with consumer objects such as radios, magazines and sewing machines but also solidarity networks and homosocial practices on the periphery of the house and in sewing courses, and experiences of being in public spaces such as the cinema and train station stand out. Although hierarchical gender relations and patriarchy play a role in the modernisation experiences of women whose relations with the outside world are shrouded in restrictions, it is found that women have been extremely willing to experience these innovations, to respond to the conditions that restrict them through resistance and solidarity with each other.

 This study aims to understand womens experiences of space and the innovations brought about by the modernisation process in a provincial company town in the 1950s and 60s from a feminist standpoint perspective. Around Değirmisaz lignite colliery, which was operated by the state until the mid-1960s, social facilities were established with the increasing population. Over time, Değirmisaz became a company town with its own unique conditions. The history of company towns in Turkey and around the world, whether designed and built or naturally formed, runs concurrently with the history of modernisation. Interpreting the process of modernisation as being the various ways in which ordinary people experience the new conditions brought about by modernity, a qualitative research was conducted from a feminist perspective and focused on how twelve women who spent their teenage years in Değirmisaz experienced these conditions in everyday life. In the narratives of women from Değirmisaz, not only interactions with consumer objects such as radios, magazines and sewing machines but also solidarity networks and homosocial practices on the periphery of the house and in sewing courses, and experiences of being in public spaces such as the cinema and train station stand out. Although hierarchical gender relations and patriarchy play a role in the modernisation experiences of women whose relations with the outside world are shrouded in restrictions, it is found that women have been extremely willing to experience these innovations, to respond to the conditions that restrict them through resistance and solidarity with each other.

 This study aims to understand womens experiences of space and the innovations brought about by the modernisation process in a provincial company town in the 1950s and 60s from a feminist standpoint perspective. Around Değirmisaz lignite colliery, which was operated by the state until the mid-1960s, social facilities were established with the increasing population. Over time, Değirmisaz became a company town with its own unique conditions. The history of company towns in Turkey and around the world, whether designed and built or naturally formed, runs concurrently with the history of modernisation. Interpreting the process of modernisation as being the various ways in which ordinary people experience the new conditions brought about by modernity, a qualitative research was conducted from a feminist perspective and focused on how twelve women who spent their teenage years in Değirmisaz experienced these conditions in everyday life. In the narratives of women from Değirmisaz, not only interactions with consumer objects such as radios, magazines and sewing machines but also solidarity networks and homosocial practices on the periphery of the house and in sewing courses, and experiences of being in public spaces such as the cinema and train station stand out. Although hierarchical gender relations and patriarchy play a role in the modernisation experiences of women whose relations with the outside world are shrouded in restrictions, it is found that women have been extremely willing to experience these innovations, to respond to the conditions that restrict them through resistance and solidarity with each other.

 Bu çalışmadaki amacım, 1950li ve 1960lı yıllarda taşrada oluşmuş bir işletme kasabasında, kadınların mekâna ve modernleşme sürecinin getirdiği yeniliklere dair deneyimlerini feminist duruş noktası epistemolojisinden yararlanarak ele almaktır. Kütahya il sınırlarına bağlı, 1960ların ortasına kadar devlet tarafından işletilmiş Değirmisaz linyit ocağı çevresinde sanayileşmeye dayalı modern yerleşim yapıları gelişmiş, sinema ve lokal gibi sosyal tesisler ve artan nüfusla birlikte özel işletmeler kurulmuş; Değirmisaz kendine özgü koşullara sahip bir işletme kasabası haline gelmiştir. Türkiyede ve dünyada tasarlanarak inşa edilmiş veya kendiliğinden oluşmuş işletme kasabalarının tarihi, aynı zamanda modernleşmenin de tarihine işaret eder. Modernleşme sürecini sıradan insanların modernitenin getirdiği yeni koşulları tecrübe etme biçimleri olarak yorumlayarak yola çıktığım bu çalışma kapsamında niteliksel bir araştırma yürüttüm ve Değirmisazda ilk gençliğini geçirmiş on iki kadının bu yenilikleri gündelik hayatta nasıl deneyimlediklerine odaklandım. Değirmisazlı kadınların anlatılarında, radyo, dergi ve dikiş makinesi gibi eve giren tüketim nesneleriyle yaşadıkları karşılaşmalar, ev çeperlerinde ve dikiş kurslarında oluşturdukları dayanışma ağları ve homososyal pratikler, sinemaya ve tren istasyonuna gitmek gibi kamusal mekân deneyimleri ön plana çıkmıştır. Dış dünya ile ilişkileri kısıtlamalarla örtülü olan kadınların modernleşme deneyimlerinde hiyerarşik toplumsal cinsiyet ilişkileri ve ataerkillik rol oynasa da, kadınların bu yenilikleri deneyimlemek, kendilerini kısıtlayan koşullara direnmek ve birbirleriyle dayanışma içinde olarak yanıt vermek konusunda son derece istekli oldukları görülmüştür.

Makale detayları

Fragments of Women’s Modernization Experiences in a Company Town

Yazarlar:

Biray Anıl Birer Yanık

Yayıncı:

Ankara University

Ana Başlıklar:

Kadın Araştırmaları

Dergi:

Fe Dergi Vol.15 Issue 1, pp.96-121

Belge Tipi:

Makale

Yayın Tarihi:

6/2023

Belge Dili:

Türkçe

Document ID (Org No.):

2001294997

pISSN:

1309-128X

Değirmisaz

women’s experience

company town

space

modernisationDeğirmisaz

kadın deneyimi

mekân

işletme kasabası

modernleşme

Sayı

Makale detayları

Yazarlar: Biray Anıl Birer Yanık

Yayıncı: Ankara University

Ana Başlıklar: Kadın Araştırmaları

Dergi: Fe Dergi Vol.15 Issue 1, pp.96-121

Belge Tipi: Makale

Yayın Tarihi: 6/2023

Belge Dili: Türkçe

Document ID (Org No.): 2001294997

pISSN: 1309-128X

Sayı

Yazarlar:

Biray Anıl Birer Yanık

Yayıncı:

Ankara University

Ana Başlıklar:

Kadın Araştırmaları

Dergi:

Fe Dergi Vol.15 Issue 1, pp.96-121

Belge Tipi:

Makale

Yayın Tarihi:

6/2023

Belge Dili:

Türkçe

Document ID (Org No.):

2001294997

pISSN:

1309-128X