| Ongoing economic insecurity, political conflicts, and increased terrorism attacks in eastern Turkey has generated massive internal migration into the country's western cities, leading to vast changes in demographic, social, economic, and political structures. For decades, migrants and displaced persons lived in informal, makeshift dwellings in less developed spaces in the older city centers. Since 2000, municipal governments have relocated thousands of migrants to newly constructed, massive public housing developments in suburban "satellite cities.";This dissertation examines the impact of relocation from the viewpoint of low-income women relocated to two neighborhoods, Zubeyde Hanim and Uzundere, in Izmir, Turkey, For this project, residents were asked about their perceptions and experiences with education and employment opportunities in the newly developed urban satellites communities and where relocation has or has not benefited them. Data for this dissertation include extensive fieldwork observations and seventy interviews with female residents and key community informants, such as high school and middle school principals and the director of educational and cultural programs.;The main findings of this dissertation show that access to newly provided educational and employment opportunities upon relocation mattered for particular everyday practices of the women. But their overall participation in these programs was low and relocation did not result in a significant increase in education and employment participation. Furthermore, the involvement of residents in new opportunities was largely influenced by their prior employment and educational experience. Another significant finding of this dissertation was that residents responded to the process of relocation differently based on cultural, religious, and gendered conditions. As a result, issues of resident trust and participation in community life differed for Zubeyde Hanim and Uzundere residents. The larger implications of this dissertation include the need for more inclusive forms of official communication between authorities and resettled residents that appreciates the challenges they experience. |
