Post-divorce experiences of divorced individuals and examination of post-divorce stigma through dramaturgical theory

The family union established by marriage is legally terminated by divorce. Therefore, divorces are approached as a phenomenon that harms the family institution, which is seen as the basic building block of society and has sacred meanings. Although it is a phenomenon that has become widespread and accepted in some societies in the historical process, it is a phenomenon that is prevented or even prohibited in some societies. Such a perception towards divorce leads to the formation of judgmental attitudes towards divorced individuals. This is how divorce is defined as an abnormal phenomenon in traditional societies, especially when compared to modern societies. Such a mentality in the social structure causes the marginalization and stigmatization of divorced individuals. The aim of this study is to examine whether stigma occurs after divorce through the post-divorce experiences of divorced individuals, to understand the position of divorced individual identity in society and how this position is reflected in individuals' self-perceptions and self-presentations. In this direction, qualitative research methods and techniques have been used, which will allow us to focus on the experiences of individuals. In the context of Erving Goffman's dramaturgical theory, it has been tried to understand how divorced individuals present their selves to others in their interactions in their daily lives. Within the scope of the study, in-depth interviews were conducted with 18 divorced individuals from the center of Manisa and the town of Saruhanlı using the snowball and criterion sampling technique. In addition to the center of Manisa, Saruhanlı, the closest district, was included in the research, and the scope of the study was tried to be expanded. Since there was no sociological research on divorce in Manisa before, enlightening results were obtained in terms of revealing the perception of the divorce phenomenon here. Divorce experiences of male and female participants were analyzed in detail by analyzing the data obtained in the research area. The causes, consequences and effects of divorce on individuals have been evaluated in various dimensions. According to the research findings, it has been understood that individuals feel stigmatized intensely after divorce. In particular, stigma and exclusion seriously affect women's lives. In fact, it was observed that female participants developed self-presentation strategies in order to manage their post-divorce self-image. It was observed that none of the men within the scope of the study resorted to a different action in order to manage social surveillance. The strategies that women produce to manage their self-image are coded as concealment, moderation, social idealization of the self, invisible women, attribution to old identity, revealing, being masculine, and isolation.