Ryazantsev S.V., Vazirov Z.K., Sivoplyasova S.Y. Feminization of migration from Central Asian countries to the Turkish Republic

Abstract

The purpose of the study. The aim of the study is to identify the trend of feminization of migration flows from Central Asian countries to Turkey. And also to identify the attractive factors of immigration to Turkey, to determine the forms of migration, the number and settlement of migrants from Central Asian countries in Turkey. The methodological basis of the study. As a methodological basis, scientific research is based on a set of complementary general scientific methods of analysis. The article uses data from official statistics of international organizations of the UN system (the International Organization for Migration, the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs), the Turkish Directorate General of Migration Management and the Turkish Statistical Institute (Türkiye Istatistik Kurumu). We conducted a sociological analysis of social media platforms, took eighteen in-depth interviews with migrant women from Central Asian countries (Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan) living in Istanbul, as  well as women merchants at the «Korvon market» in Dushanbe, who often visit Turkey for commercial purposes. Six experts were also interviewed, including scientists in Central Asia and Turkey, employees of international organizations of the UN system (IOM and UNFPA), employees of the Embassies of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Tajikistan in the Republic of Turkey. The results of the study. The key attracting factors of the formation of the migration corridor «Central Asia — Turkey» have been identified. The forms of migration, the number and settlement of migrants from Central Asian countries in Turkey are determined. The problems of adaptation and integration of migrants from Central Asia in Turkey are identified. Central Asian «Digital Diasporas» in Turkey have been identified. It has been established that social networks mainly serve migrants from Central Asian countries to exchange information, including on Turkey’s migration policy. Serious discrepancies have been revealed between official statistics and expert estimates regarding the number of migrants from Central Asian countries in Turkey. The prospects for further research. Unfortunately, migrant women from Central Asian countries in Turkey have significant risks in terms of infringement of their labor and family rights. It should also be noted that so far Turkey does not carry out a sufficient number of special programs for the adaptation and integration of migrants from Central Asian countries. This direction deserves further research and implementation in migration policy.