Building commonalities and belonging in Turkish-Kurdish intermarriages in Izmir, Turkey
in: Minorities, Identity and Intermarriage: A European Perspective, Taylor & Francis Ltd, pp.184-205, 2026
- Publication Type: Book Chapter / Chapter Research Book
- Publication Date: 2026
- Doi Number: 10.4324/9781003563228-14
- Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd
- Page Numbers: pp.184-205
- Dokuz Eylül University Affiliated: Yes
Abstract
This chapter evaluates how the identities and definitions of social categories are experienced in Turkish-Kurdish intermarriages. The study's main questions concern how partners experience and make meaning of their origin identities and categories, how these intermarriages may influence their social identifications, and how they build commonalities and belonging. The sample consists of 52 individuals, comprising 26 Turkish-Kurdish couples, mostly settled in Turkey's western coastal region, specifically Izmir, which is Turkey's third biggest city and known as liberal and modern. Belonging to this city also enriches the experiences of these intermarried couples. Because Turkishness and Kurdishness can be represented as contested categories in Turkey, some intermarriages may create challenges or even be considered taboo. For others, there are no recognizable cultural differences between the partners and their families because they come from the same part of the country and/or share the same urban space. Turkishness and Kurdishness gather different meanings through the very intimate relations of the partners and the role of their agency in negotiating these categories. Some develop dual identifications through their marriages while others emphasize their origin categories more while underlining their belonging. Eventually, emphasizing commonalities and not approaching these categories as mutually exclusive necessarily reinforces intermarried individuals’ belonging.