Turkish Rural Lifestyle Migrants to Muğla: A Qualitative Analysis of Video Narratives

Bu makalede, Türkiye'de büyük şehirlerden kırsala göç YouTube platformunda yayınlanan göç hikâyelerinin içerik analizine dayalı olarak, Muğla ili örneğinde, yaşam tarzı göçü yaklaşımıyla ele alınmıştır. Araştırma sonuçları, büyük şehirlerde ağırlıklı olarak özel sektörde çalışan ve çoğu otuzlu yaşlarda olan bir grup insanın yeni bir hayata başlamak için işlerini bırakıp, kırsala göç ettiğini göstermiştir. Söz konusu göçmenlerin çoğu büyük şehirlerin istenmeyen koşullarından, şehir hayatının getirdiği olumsuz duygulardan ve yoğun iş baskısından kaçmakta ve Ege kıyılarının kırsal kesimlerinde doğa ve üretim merkezli bir yaşam aramaktadır. Sonuçlar, Covid-19'un da yeni bir motivasyon kaynağı olarak ortaya çıktığını göstermiştir. Kentin aksine, kırsalın olumlu özellikleri, özellikle bahçeli müstakil bir evde yaşama imkânı, kırsal alanların var olan olumlu imajını daha da güçlendirmiştir. Kırsal alanlar, sokağa çıkma yasağı durumunda özel bahçeleri sayesinde açık hava etkinliklerini ve maskesiz bir günlük yaşamı mümkün kıldığı için daha güvenli ve konforlu yerler olarak görülmektedir. Dolayısıyla, büyük şehirlerden kırsal alanlara göçün, pandemi ile daha da popüler bir eğilim haline geldiği söylenebilir.

Turkish Rural Lifestyle Migrants to Muğla: A Qualitative Analysis of Video Narratives

This article focuses on migration from big cities to the countryside in Turkey, in the case of Muğla province with a lifestyle migration lens, based on content analysis of the stories of migrants posted on the YouTube platform that provides a basis to increase digital migration research. Research results showed that a group of people who were mainly earlier in their life cycle and worked in the private sector in the big cities quitted their jobs to start a new life in the countryside. Most of them escape from the disliked characteristics of big cities, negative emotions caused by urban life and intense work pressure. They are in search of natural and production-centred life in rural areas of the Turkish Aegean. The results indicated that Covid-19 also emerged as a recent motivator. Contrary to the city, favourable features of the countryside, especially the possibility of living in a detached house with a garden, strengthened the positive image of the rural areas. They are seen as safer and more comfortable locations because in the case of a curfew, outdoor activities and a mask-free daily life would be possible due to the private gardens. Migration from big cities to rural areas seems to become a more popular trend with the pandemic.

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