Security experiences of single mothers in urban space: The case of Erzincan

Single mothers constitute one of the vulnerable groups that experience the effects of social norms and inequalities on urban life most intensely. This study examines the gender-based control mechanisms of cities in the context of single mothers' security experiences. The research, conducted in the case of Erzincan province, analyzes the invisible power practices of urban space over women's body and identity in line with Michel Foucault's theoretical framework of control and surveillance society. Through in-depth interviews with single mothers, the qualitative study reveals how structural elements such as moral judgment, social exclusion and symbolic violence shape women's relationship with the city beyond perceptions of threats to physical security. Single mothers are able to maintain their presence in the city through strategies such as minimizing visibility, avoiding certain times and places, and developing behaviors in line with social norms. These limitations on women's spatial mobility show that urban space is not only physically but also ideologically gendered. In line with feminist theory, the study points out that urban space is not a neutral and egalitarian ground; on the contrary, it is a space where patriarchal control relations are reproduced and emphasizes the necessity of gender-sensitive policies.