Examining the adaptation process of women exposed to internal displacement due to the earthquake to their new settlement (February 6, 2023 Earthquake)

This study aims to examine the adaptation processes of women subjected to internal migration following the earthquakes centered in Kahramanmaraş on February 6, 2023. The phenomenon of post-disaster migration is not merely a physical displacement but also represents a profound transformation encompassing social, economic, and psychological dimensions. Women's migration experiences are shaped within the framework of gender roles, which, in turn, exacerbate the challenges they face in post-disaster reconstruction processes. Within this context, the research adopts a gender perspective to analyze the integration processes of women into their new living environments, the social, economic, cultural, and psychological difficulties they encounter, and the strategies they employ to cope with these challenges. This study, structured using the holistic single-case design, employs a qualitative research methodology. It was conducted through semi-structured interviews with 12 women residing in container cities in the province of Osmaniye. The collected data were analyzed using the descriptive analysis method, revealing the primary issues faced by women post-migration, including concerns about housing and security, difficulties in accessing healthcare services, social exclusion, lack of economic independence, and psychosocial trauma. Additionally, women were observed to engage in solidarity networks, strive for their children's education, and develop individual coping mechanisms for daily life challenges. The findings indicate that post-disaster migration processes fail to adequately address the unique needs of women and that their adaptation cannot be assessed independently of gender inequalities. In this regard, the study recommends that post-disaster planning incorporate gender-sensitive approaches, including expanding psychosocial support services, strengthening women-specific social spaces, and ensuring equal access to essential services such as education and healthcare. This research contributes to the literature by offering a female perspective on the social impacts of disasters and aims to inform post-disaster reconstruction policies.