Redefining Naz: Young women and the negotiation of pre-marital power dynamics in Bursa

In the Turkish context, the premarital relationship dynamics include naz, a series of negative behaviors performed by the bride in order to achieve a specific advantage. The level of intensity of this performance progressively increases until the wedding day. This study seeks to demonstrate that naz significantly influences premarital relationships through different dimensions, including romance, economic purchases, social status, and negotiation within the patriarchal framework. It is regarded as a valuable social element that must be preserved, so that the future generations have healthy and balanced premarital relationships. In this study, there have been in-depth interviews with both generations, the newlywed brides and their mothers or mothers-in-law. They were asked to answer questions about their introduction to their future husbands, the premarital process, their wedding and the short period following the marriage. The city of Bursa has been selected as the foundation of the study due to the fact that it combines the characteristics of a metropolitan area with conservative dynamics. This study has considered the historical development of Turkish marriage practices, which originates from the Tanzimat period and concludes with the contemporary practices. Also, the current practices, starting from the introduction of the couple until their wedding day, are examined in detail in order to understand naz. Furthermore, this study has come to the conclusion that the premarital relationship dynamics cannot be comprehended without naz practices although those practices are finite. The definition and categorization of naz is crucial although some groups developed a critical approach to naz. So, naz performances and procedures are deeply embedded in our society through multiple dimensions.