Everyday Life Experiences and Integration Process: A case of the Turkish Minority in the Netherlands

Abstract

This thesis examines the everyday life experiences of Turkish migrants settled in the Netherlands. It analyzes how the Turkish minority perceives their daily lives in the Netherlands in the manner of the identity construction and integration process. The narratives of the migrants are explored in the following ways; media use, language use, attachment to the country of origin, views on identity construction, and integration. Ethnic media use, second language use, and the level of attachment to Turkey are used as indicators for everyday life experiences while integration and identity construction are investigated dependently. Most importantly, this study argues that integration is a two- way process that takes place differently in multiple spheres. For this reason, it analyzes the concept of integration through the voices of the Turkish migrants in the Netherlands rather than focusing solely on the adopted policies. Keywords: Turkish minority, the Netherlands, everyday experiences, integration, identity