The goal of this study is to show the LGBT history of Armenia and Turkey in a simple manner. I wi... more The goal of this study is to show the LGBT history of Armenia and Turkey in a simple manner. I will introduce how these two societies approach LGBT issues from both a comparative and historical perspective with the purpose of understanding the roots of homophobia that are still visible today in both countries. I will investigate the central characteristics of Armenia and Turkey that were formed in the past and continue to shape present-day realities around how these two societies articulate interpretations of LGBT issues. These characteristics are based on Armenia and Turkey's political systems, their respective religions, and include their culture and traditions.
The aim of this study is to conduct a discourse analysis of the term “sustainability” from an int... more The aim of this study is to conduct a discourse analysis of the term “sustainability” from an intersectional ecofeminist perspective, as well as to engage in an ethnographic study conducted within a sustainability project in rural Turkey. The central question of this research is how the interpretative repertoires of my research participants reflect contemporary embodied experiences of sustainability. In the context of this thesis, the term interpretative repertoire refers to particular stylistic and grammatical expressions in my research setting that provide significant means by which to understand my research participants’ values and ways of seeing the world. Analyzing two selected interpretative repertoires from my research participants’ conversations, namely mavi boncuk dağıtmak (“distributing blue beads”) and özveri (“self-sacrifice”), my analysis will demonstrate how these specific repertoires problematize the patriarchal and capitalist underpinnings of sustainability efforts in a contemporary Turkish context. Focusing upon crisis points when my research participants struggled to solidify their power and to establish meaning, I demonstrate how these interpretative repertoires work towards constructing gendered and classed relations in rural communities. Drawing upon theoretical discourse analysis as well as my ethnographic data, I argue that for sustainability to become truly “sustainable” it needs to be sensitive towards, and able to work with, participants’ gender and class differences. I suggest constructing counter-narratives to mavi boncuk dağıtmak as a means to oppose patriarchal dominations over both women and nature, as well as a democratization of the özveri interpretative repertoire to eliminate injustice and discrimination, transforming it into a double-sided request that participants in sustainability projects of all classes and genders can make and deploy to hold both themselves and each other accountable.
Today, when we wake up to hear that even the most successful celebrities such as Anthony Bourdain... more Today, when we wake up to hear that even the most successful celebrities such as Anthony Bourdain and Avicii have committed suicide, a question surges for many entrepreneurs: If not even the most accomplished amongst us are immune from suffering, how are we then supposed to find the joy and the motivation to succeed and be happy in the long run?
This workshop originated with this question and proceeded with activities and games to use the most effective mindfulness techniques that help build our self-esteem (positive thinking), realistic goal setting, and motivation.
The goal of this study is to show the LGBT history of Armenia and Turkey in a simple manner. I wi... more The goal of this study is to show the LGBT history of Armenia and Turkey in a simple manner. I will introduce how these two societies approach LGBT issues from both a comparative and historical perspective with the purpose of understanding the roots of homophobia that are still visible today in both countries. I will investigate the central characteristics of Armenia and Turkey that were formed in the past and continue to shape present-day realities around how these two societies articulate interpretations of LGBT issues. These characteristics are based on Armenia and Turkey's political systems, their respective religions, and include their culture and traditions.
The aim of this study is to conduct a discourse analysis of the term “sustainability” from an int... more The aim of this study is to conduct a discourse analysis of the term “sustainability” from an intersectional ecofeminist perspective, as well as to engage in an ethnographic study conducted within a sustainability project in rural Turkey. The central question of this research is how the interpretative repertoires of my research participants reflect contemporary embodied experiences of sustainability. In the context of this thesis, the term interpretative repertoire refers to particular stylistic and grammatical expressions in my research setting that provide significant means by which to understand my research participants’ values and ways of seeing the world. Analyzing two selected interpretative repertoires from my research participants’ conversations, namely mavi boncuk dağıtmak (“distributing blue beads”) and özveri (“self-sacrifice”), my analysis will demonstrate how these specific repertoires problematize the patriarchal and capitalist underpinnings of sustainability efforts in a contemporary Turkish context. Focusing upon crisis points when my research participants struggled to solidify their power and to establish meaning, I demonstrate how these interpretative repertoires work towards constructing gendered and classed relations in rural communities. Drawing upon theoretical discourse analysis as well as my ethnographic data, I argue that for sustainability to become truly “sustainable” it needs to be sensitive towards, and able to work with, participants’ gender and class differences. I suggest constructing counter-narratives to mavi boncuk dağıtmak as a means to oppose patriarchal dominations over both women and nature, as well as a democratization of the özveri interpretative repertoire to eliminate injustice and discrimination, transforming it into a double-sided request that participants in sustainability projects of all classes and genders can make and deploy to hold both themselves and each other accountable.
Today, when we wake up to hear that even the most successful celebrities such as Anthony Bourdain... more Today, when we wake up to hear that even the most successful celebrities such as Anthony Bourdain and Avicii have committed suicide, a question surges for many entrepreneurs: If not even the most accomplished amongst us are immune from suffering, how are we then supposed to find the joy and the motivation to succeed and be happy in the long run?
This workshop originated with this question and proceeded with activities and games to use the most effective mindfulness techniques that help build our self-esteem (positive thinking), realistic goal setting, and motivation.
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surges for many entrepreneurs: If not even the most accomplished amongst us are immune from suffering, how are we then supposed to find the joy and the motivation to succeed and be happy in the long run?
This workshop originated with this question and proceeded with
activities and games to use the most effective mindfulness techniques that help build our self-esteem (positive thinking), realistic goal setting, and motivation.
surges for many entrepreneurs: If not even the most accomplished amongst us are immune from suffering, how are we then supposed to find the joy and the motivation to succeed and be happy in the long run?
This workshop originated with this question and proceeded with
activities and games to use the most effective mindfulness techniques that help build our self-esteem (positive thinking), realistic goal setting, and motivation.