Gender-based violence in the migration process: Experiences of immigrant women

The feminization of migration that occurs in connection with globalization has created the need to address the field of migration in the light of feminist theory. This study aims to explore the migration experiences of women who migrate on their own by using it as a coping strategy for gender –based treatments, contrary to the usual reasons such as family reunifications. This research is intended to bring out the migration experiences of women who were both forcibly displaced for various reasons (social, political, economic, etc.) and voluntarily emigrated ,their experiences in the process from the source country to the destination / transit country, the problems they encounter, their female-specific reasons for migration, gender-based violence, the risks they face and how they deal with all. In line with this purpose, in-depth interviews were conducted with 22 women, consisting of forced and voluntary migrants. In terms of understanding and analyzing women's experiences in migration, it was designed in a qualitative structure with investigative ,interpretative and feminist approach in accordance with the nature of women's studies. The data obtained from the interviews were analyzed under five main themes: migration and women, information about the source country, pre-migration, migration period and post-migration experiences. As a result of the research, the reasons for migration specific to women, the dynamics of various female circumstances affected negatively or positively by migration, gender-based violence, discrimination and other risk factors, were tried to be visible. In addition, it was revealed that women were participated in migration process with their own free will and in this way, getting out of the dependent migration theory, they were victims of gender-based violence in some part of their lives, and they used migration as a strategy to cope with gender-based problems. The research resulted in with recommendations in line with the data obtained. Keywords: Migration, the relationship between women and violence, the phenomenon of violence and gender-based violence, feminization of migration