A sociological research on the symbolic consumption behavior of religious women: The case of Bursa

The aim of this study is to conduct a sociological analysis of the symbolic consumption behaviors of religious women living in the center of Bursa. Factors affecting the women's consumption were investigated and the effect of religion on symbolic consumption was examined. In the first chapter, while the conceptual dimension of consumption and consumption behaviors are discussed; in particular the concept of symbolic consumption is examined. Conseptual and social formation of symbolic consumtion is explained. Modern and postmodern consumption periods are discussed; periodic stages of consumption are mentioned periodically. In the second chapter, symbolic consumption behaviors of religious women in Bursa are examined. The factors affecting the wpmen's consumption in five categories were investigated. The influence of religion on consumption is discussed under a seperate heading. In our study, the analysis of in-depth interviews with women residing in Bursa center isgiven by using descriptive analysis technique, which is one of the qualitative data analysis types. Keywords: Religion, Religious, Consumption, Symbolic Consumption, Consumption Behavior, Modernism, Postmodernism