The structure and transformation of circassian family

Ethnicity-based family research is an area of family sociology that has remained in the background in Turkey. The common meanings and cultural norms that ethnicity offers to individuals have shaped family interactions. In addition, interactions with changing contexts due to urbanization, individualization and similar phenomena differentiate the meanings people use and thus family relations. This study was conducted to examine the Circassian family structure in the Glaksteney region, which covers Göksun, Afşin and Andırın districts of Kahramanmaraş, and the transformations in this structure. In the study, various aspects of Circassian family structure and transformation are analyzed in a socio-economic context. The research is based on the data obtained from in-depth interviews with the participants using a qualitative method and the observations of the researcher. A semi-structured interview form created by the researcher and Circassians living in the area was used as a data collection tool. Through in-depth interviews, the participants shared their thoughts on the topic under study. The researcher started to collect data for the study conducted in Kahramanmaraş on November 15, 2022, but could not collect data for a long time due to the February 6 Kahramanmaraş earthquakes. In the second half of 2023, data collection continued, and the interviews were terminated after reaching 38 respondents by October 2023 and observing that the data had reached saturation. The research findings show that the family structures of Circassians are shaped within the framework of "khabze" norms, which express the oral social norms that existed in the Caucasus before the exile, and that family structures are structured in a way to ensure community organization and collective solidarity. The interactions established in the family structure were formed based on various generalized others such as "yemık'u/haynape", "kinship", "seniority", "thamadelik". In addition, the family structure of Circassians was revealed under main themes such as age and gender hierarchy, interactions between family members (bride-root family relations, brother-in-law-daughter-in-law relations, etc.), family interaction rituals, socialization processes and transformation of family structure. Circassians have based the family on values such as "respect", "love", "cooperation" and "solidarity" by making sense of family interactions in a socio-economic context. While the family was structured in a way to support community organization during the traditional village life period, during the period of settlement based on work life due to urbanization, with the differentiation of community organization, the family structure also manifested itself in the form of differentiation in rituals and interactions. Family rituals were observed as avoidance rituals, respect rituals and rituals related to special occasions. These rituals serve the purpose of maintaining family harmony and social order. Circassians of Glaksteney Region have reevaluated their social norms and rituals as a result of cultural interactions, and these interactions have been decisive in the transformation of the family structure. The value of "respect" has emerged as the unchangeable element. Factors such as individualization, education, important life events, migration to the city, house separation and the non-use of the Circassian language were evaluated as effective factors in the transformation of the family structure. In line with the findings and results of the study, suggestions were made on various issues for future research, and it was stated that long-term, comparative studies would contribute to the literature. In addition, suggestions were made for family practitioners on the importance of family contracts.