Perceptions of family, marriage and gender among Girls' Imam Hatip High School students (A sociological research in the case of Muş)

This master's thesis is a sociological research on the perceptions of family, marriage and gender of students studying at Girls' Imam Hatip High Schools in Muş. This three-part study deals with a wide range of issues, from the relationship of young people studying in Imam Hatip schools with popular culture and modernism to their perceptions of gender. In the first part of the thesis, the impact of education and religion in Imam Hatip schools on young people was examined, and how the relationship of this impact with popular culture and modernism evolved was discussed. In the second part, the effects of the modernization process on the concepts of women and family are discussed, and what transformation this process creates on gender roles and expectations is evaluated. In the third chapter, the girls' Imam Hatip High School students' perception of gender, their perspective on marriage and their views on the role of femininity were examined in detail through a survey. The research includes findings that family structure and parents' situation affect the psycho-social development of students. The education levels of mothers and fathers have had a significant impact on children's education and career choices, and the impact of mothers with low education levels on their children has become evident. While the professions of the mothers and fathers shape the economic and social situation of the family, it has been observed that mothers mostly play traditional housewife roles. The findings of the research revealed that the majority of students grew up in a nuclear family structure and had a middle income level. In particular, their answers to questions about their gender were associated with the patriarchal social structure and gender discrimination in the family. In conclusion, this research emphasizes the determining effects of family structure, educational status and gender perceptions on the socio-cultural and psychological development of young girls.