A research on the construction of aging and the social status of the elderly in the context of tribal structure: The case of Ağrı-Doğubayazit

This study examines the construction of old age within the tribal context and the social status of the elderly. The aim of the study is to reveal how the phenomenon of old age is constructed in the tribe alongside the transition from tradition to modernity, how the tribal structure has undergone change, and how the social status of the elderly has been shaped over time as a result. As in every society, the construction of old age and the social status of the elderly in tribes are shaped within the context of dynamics and values specific to the tribe. Old age is considered not only a biological process but also a phenomenon determined within a cultural and social context. Accordingly, the status of the elderly in the tribe is examined through fundamental areas such as rural-urban, gender, social roles, care, and intergenerational relationships. In line with these objectives of the study, interviews were conducted with 40 tribal members living in the district center of Doğubayazıt as part of qualitative research. The data obtained from the interviews with tribal members were supported by observation-based findings and analyzed using thematic analysis techniques. As a result of this analysis, two main themes emerged regarding the tribe: "The social and cultural codes of the tribe: attributed meanings and definitions" and "The tribe in the context of traditionalism versus modernity." Regarding the status of the elderly, the following themes emerged: "The construction of old age in the tribe," "The social status and roles of the elderly in the rural-urban context," "The position of the elderly in the context of social status," "The status of the elderly in the context of roles in the tribe," and "The social status of the elderly in the context of generational relations." Findings from these themes indicate that tribes have undergone transformation in terms of structure and values, taking on modern forms. Along with this transformation in the tribe, the social status of the elderly has also changed over time. The status of the elderly, which has changed linearly with modernization, has decreased in modern tribes, whereas it was high in traditional tribes. In traditional tribes, the status of the elderly was determined by charismatic characteristics such as knowledge, experience, lineage, honor, and mediation. Elderly people possessing these characteristics have enjoyed higher status within the tribe. Increasing urbanization and technology with modernization have limited the authority of the elderly in the tribe. While the support provided by the extended family in rural tribes has facilitated the care of the elderly and strengthened their status, the nuclear family in the city has weakened the position of the elderly. Within the tribe, it has been observed that elderly men have a higher status than elderly women in terms of gender. Consequently, although the status of the elderly in the tribal context has declined over time, the elderly are still seen today as the bearers of collective memory and, as a result, maintain their central position within the tribe.