The assessment of reproductive health awareness of young refugee women in terms of feminist social work

This thesis, titled as "An Assessment of Reproductive Health Awareness of Young Refugee Women in Terms of Feminist Social Work", aims to assess the awareness of married young refugee women aged 18-30 having settled in Izmir province after taking refuge in Turkey under the impact of the Syrian war. The assessment is conducted within the framework of gender inequalities, from a feminist social work perspective. The secondary social status attached to women due to their roles in reproduction is one of the most fundamental problems of the history of feminist thought. Focusing on reproductive health "experiences and vital practices" of young refugee women, this study is designed according to the "phenomenology" pattern used by "qualitative" research approaches. 26 Syrian young female refugees, who constitute the study group of the research, are reached by the "criterion" sampling. Research data are collected by an in-depth interview method using a "semi-structured interview form". The data are analyzed thematically by using the "MAXQDA Analytics Pro 2020" qualitative data analysis program. The findings obtained in the research are interpreted through two themes, "Reproductive Health Knowledge of Young Refugee Women" and "Young Refugee Women's Right to Self-Determination", based on socio-demographic characteristics and gender inequalities that occur as a result of gender dynamics attributed to women in male-dominated societies. It has been analyzed through the experiences of women in terms of their sexual/reproductive health as well as their roles in the family and their right to speak in decision-making/making processes. Research findings suggest that in order to combat the invisibility of young refugee women in patriarchal society, women should be empowered by raising their awareness of rights violations; that there is a need for institutions in women's lives that will empower them; It has emerged that women's use of these institutions through rights-based feminist social work practices will strengthen the society as well as their individual empowerment. Keywords: young refugee, women, reproductive health, sexual health, feminist social work