International forced migration experiences of Afghan women in the intersection of social inequalities

In this thesis, it is aimed to investigate the forced migration experiences of Afghan women under international protection in Turkey. Qualitative research method and phenomenological approach were adopted in order to understand the experiences of refugee women. The sample of the research was determined by snowball sampling technique, taking into account the maximum diversity in terms of length of stay in Turkey, last place of residence, ethnic and sectarian characteristics. A semi-structured interview form consisting of questions to understand the migration experiences of Afghans was prepared. Face-to-face interviews were held with twenty-five Afghan refugees living in the border city of Van, in the presence of a translator, by taking Covid-19 precautions. The audio recordings of the interviews were deciphered and the texts of the interviews were analyzed in a relational way. In this study, which focuses on the migration experiences of women asylum seekers, the intersectionality approach has been adopted. According to the research findings, Afghan women are exposed to ethnic, sectarian, socio-economic, etc., as well as masculine violence. migrated due to factors. Asylum-seeking women had to struggle with masculine violence as well as the conflict and violence caused by the Taliban in Afghanistan. The intersectional approach, which emphasizes the relationality and variability of social positions, explains that someone from the same ethnic origin or world of belief as the Taliban may be the target of violence because of their different qualities. It was determined that the refugee women interviewed were exposed to masculine violence or Taliban violence at the intersection of their socio-economic status and sectarian and ethnic characteristics. Women who are under the threat of forced marriage at an early age and who have been subjected to violence by their husbands or the Taliban have decided to migrate to combat violence as a subject. International forced migration of Afghan women who have experienced Taliban violence or male violence has been identified as an important strategy in combating violence. Keywords: Afghanistan, intersectionality, migration experience, refugee woman, Taliban.