The lived experience of displaced Syrian men in Istanbul

While there are numerous studies regarding the impact of displacement on the psycho-social and cultural impact of displacement, there is a paucity of understanding regarding how young, refugee males view their perceptions of masculinity as it relates to their social responsibilities and roles compared to pre-displacement conditions. This ethnographic study seeks to understand this dynamic, shedding light on the lived experience of refugee males through understanding how they view themselves considering a lack of context about their "conventional keystones of manhood". I conducted 16 semi-structured interviews through a snowball sampling framework within the location of Istanbul Turkey. Several fieldwork findings were analyzed through thematic analysis. This analysis found that the public discourse in Turkey regarding displaced Syrian men has a significant impact on their perceptions of their own masculinity. Syrian men are often disparaged in Turkish press, and the position of Syrians in Turkey is often questioned politically and leads to feelings of impermanence and vulnerability. The impacts of this impermanence are compounded by disruptions to what my participants had suggested as 'traditional socio-familial role' occupied by men in Syria. According to my participants, without a nuclear family to support, difficulty findings suitable spouses, and the removal of traditional safety and security provided by their close-knit home communities, men have been forced to reformulate their perceptions of masculinity. Displacement has also given more freedom, choice, and responsibility to women, challenging traditional gender roles within Syrian society. This has further forced men to challenge their notions of masculinity. This thesis concludes by suggesting that further research be conducted into the impact that this shift will have on themselves and future generations and their opportunities to build futures for themselves and their families.