Women of Rivers - Feminist Political Ecology of Hydropower Development in Eastern Black Sea Region of Turkey

Abstract: Hydropower projects have rapidly increased in Eastern Black Sea Region of Turkey, putting local women’s socio-environmental engagements with rivers in danger. This thesis examines the hydropower projects in the aforementioned region, from the Feminist Political Ecology perspective, with an intersectional look, and thus explores how the hydropower projects have resulted in reproducing social inequalities by impairing women’s identities. Drawing on Feminist Political Ecology, this thesis concerns gendered environmental responsibilities and rights, identity, access and control over the river. Following the feminist methodology, the data is collected through nine semi-structured interviews and narrative walks as part of participant observation during the fieldwork, and is analyzed through narrative analysis. The analysis is based on the theoretical concepts and themes resulting from the narratives. This research demonstrates that local women’s identities are closely interlinked with the river through their social and economic livelihoods and the senses of belonging, strength, and protectionism. Yet, the socio-political process of the hydropower plants, such as privatization, decision-making, and construction phases, had changed women’s engagements with the river by damaging the environment and social relations. By stating that women’s livelihoods create a critical part of their identities, the thesis concludes that hydropower projects reproduce social inequality through loss of livelihoods, loss of identities, deepened social exclusion, and cultural alienation.