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Syrian Refugees Minors in Turkey. Why and how are they Discriminated Against and Ostracized?

Author

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  • Selcuk Besir Demir

    (Cumhuriyet University)

  • Volkan Ozgul

    (Cumhuriyet University)

Abstract

This qualitative study aims to explore the extent to which 8–15-year-old Syrian children in Turkey face discrimination and ostracism at school and in the community, as well as to reveal what they think about their life in Turkey. The study group was 22 Syrian refugee children, recruited using criteria sampling by taking into account such personal data as age, gender, school attendance and so forth. Semi-structured interviews were used to collect data about their feelings. Two distinct forms of semi-structured interviews were conducted: One for the participants who attend school, and another for those who do not. The data from the semi-structured interviews were analysed using NVivo v10. The results of the study indicate that the participants encountered discrimination and ostracism in public places, such as schools, hospitals, parks and public transport. The participants consistently reported that they faced discriminatory acts such as humiliation and rejection by peers, while also witnessing attitudes of indifference by others. They also reported that they usually witnessed public apathy. Another major problem was that they are often exploited in workplaces (if they are working) and are paid less. The findings globally suggest that they suffer from widespread discrimination and ostracism. Therefore, a significant number of them have reported that they are mostly unhappy with life in Turkey and want to return to their home country.

Suggested Citation

  • Selcuk Besir Demir & Volkan Ozgul, 2019. "Syrian Refugees Minors in Turkey. Why and how are they Discriminated Against and Ostracized?," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 12(6), pages 1989-2011, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:chinre:v:12:y:2019:i:6:d:10.1007_s12187-019-9622-3
    DOI: 10.1007/s12187-019-9622-3
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Tuba Bircan & Ulaş Sunata, 2015. "Educational Assessment of Syrian Refugees in Turkey," Migration Letters, Migration Letters, vol. 12(3), pages 226-237, September.
    2. Montgomery, Edith, 2008. "Long-term effects of organized violence on young Middle Eastern refugees' mental health," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 67(10), pages 1596-1603, November.
    3. Stark, Lindsay & DeCormier Plosky, Willyanne & Horn, Rebecca & Canavera, Mark, 2015. "‘He always thinks he is nothing’: The psychosocial impact of discrimination on adolescent refugees in urban Uganda," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 146(C), pages 173-181.
    4. Elitok, Secil Pacaci & Straubhaar, Thomas, 2010. "Turkey: Change from an emigration to an immigration and now to a transit migration country," HWWI Policy Papers 3-16, Hamburg Institute of International Economics (HWWI).
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    Cited by:

    1. Sabine Andresen & Sascha Neumann & Ulrich Schneekloth, 2021. "How Children in Germany Experience Refugees: A Contribution From Childhood Studies," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 14(5), pages 2045-2064, October.
    2. Livia Hazer & Gustaf Gredebäck, 2023. "The effects of war, displacement, and trauma on child development," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 10(1), pages 1-19, December.

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