The Position of Turkish Women in Belgium: Marriage and Language Integration

Abstract

This study examines the post-migration experiences of women who migrated from Turkey to Belgium through marriage. It focuses on their marital and family lives, social integration processes, experiences of learning Belgium’s official languages, and access to the labor market. The main research question is as follows: What kinds of social, economic, and cultural challenges do women who migrate to Belgium through marriage encounter after migration, and how do they cope with these challenges? The study draws on a qualitative field study with 20 migrant women aged 32- 62 living in Brussels, as well as one social work professional. By presenting empirical data from women’s subjective narratives, the study contributes to the limited literature on marriage migrant women in Belgium. It offers an original contribution to migration and integration research by analyzing marriage migration at the intersection of gender, integration, and labor market access.