Emerging Challenges

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to examine the post-migration experiences of Turkish women in Saudi Arabia. The author explores the reasons Turkish women immigrate to Saudi Arabia and identifies the challenges they encounter while living there. The author recruited 115 Turkish immigrant women through snowball sampling and conducted semi-structured interviews. The research data reveal the sociodemographic attributes of Turkish women immigrants and their narratives of the adaptation process. The interview data was analyzed using thematic analysis which suggested three salient categories: factors facilitating the adaptation process, including language proficiency and religion; barriers in the adaptation process, including environmental problems and challenges related to social and political structures of Saudi Arabian society; and coping mechanisms to navigate or overcome such challenges, including residing near a partners' workplace and other Turkish immigrants. The findings demonstrate the significance of gender identity for Turkish immigrant women's experiences in Saudi Arabian society.