Silenced memories: Yazidi women in Turkey

Official URL: https://risc01.sabanciuniv.edu/record=b2486483_(Table of contents)

This thesis investigates the narratives of Yazidi women on the chronic state of violence and the effects of violent memories in shaping their everyday life. The narratives derive from oral history research with Yazidi women and participant observation conducted in three villages of Mardin. Fear was the most common word used by the research participants to refer to the chronic state of violence, and this thesis analyzes the circulation of fear in the community through the narratives, bodily reactions and evolution of daily practices. The research shows that mourning rituals and interaction with graveyards constitute a key aspect of every life and social relationships among Yazidis in this region. In this thesis, I analyze the ways in which mourning practices are gendered and increasingly digitalized, as a result of the ongoing migration and social transformation