Women’s civil response to disaster areas: The example of the February 2023 earthquake in Türkiye

Hafizoğlu R., Albayrak H. Ş.

Asian Journal of Women's Studies, cilt.31, sa.2, ss.194-215, 2025 (SSCI) identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 31 Sayı: 2
  • Basım Tarihi: 2025
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1080/12259276.2025.2512959
  • Dergi Adı: Asian Journal of Women's Studies
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Scopus, Index Islamicus, MLA - Modern Language Association Database
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.194-215
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: civil initiative, Earthquake, Muslim women, Pious subjectivity‌, Turkey, Türkiye
  • Marmara Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

This study aims to examine the experiences of women in the aftermath of the devastating earthquakes that struck numerous cities of Türkiye on February 6, 2023 who were from unaffected regions of the country and mobilized to assist earthquake victims. Adopting the theoretical framework of “pious subjectivities” developed by Saba Mahmood, this study seeks to reveal the experiences of Muslim women in catastrophic areas as saviors of civilians. To this end, in-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with ten women who traveled to earthquake-stricken areas to provide support through individual efforts or via a civil society organization. The results of the research revealed that, contrary to the liberal secular view of Muslim women as weak and in need of rescue, Muslim women embody pious subjectivities, saving lives from under the rubble.