The children and their parents: Changing spatial belongings among migrants’ generations

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the process of changing spatial belongings of migrants’ generations. The First generation who moved out from Eastern and Southeastern of Turkey haven’t cut their communication with their hometown. On the contrary, they have built new belonging relations with the host culture. This is the exact opposite of the second generation. The second generation, who are children of the first generation, have built sense of belonging to İnegöl where they live. Also the second generation have prevented their parents from returning to their hometown. It shows that children and their parents have been living in the different worlds although they live in the same homes. This study has been conducted on migrants living in Huzur Neighborhood, İnegöl, Bursa. Empirically, I conducted in depth interviews and focus groups discussions with 30 migrants to capture the changing spatial belongings of the two generations of migrants.

Keywords: Construction of identity, Kurdish migrants, ıntergenerational relations, Turkey