Community Consciousness and The Construction of Social Honour : A Study Among The Kurds in Finland

Title

Community Consciousness and The Construction of Social Honour : A Study Among The Kurds in Finland

Creator

Karimi, Rebwar

Contributor

Om Prakash, L T

Description

Research on honour has recently been overshadowed by discussions surrounding honour-related violence (HRV), particularly honour killings. Typically, inquiries into how the concept of honour, often associated with violent acts, is formed, and expressed on personal or communal levels remain unanswered or are only superficially explored. This study aims to uncover the social structures underlying the concept of honour, demonstrate its manifestation through social interactions, and elucidate how individuals respond to threats against their honour. Because of the many tragic instances of HRV within Kurdish diaspora communities, Kurds and Kurdish culture frequently feature in discussions concerning this phenomenon. Therefore, data for current research has been collected from Kurds living in the diaspora, specifically in Finland. The data were elicited through a combination of methods to be as comprehensive as possible. This included 24 semi-structured interviews with individual participants and four Focus Group Discussions involving 16 participants. A closer look at the data shows that the construction of Kurdish honour is based on a complex interaction of social structures. These structures can be broken down into three key elements: institutional, relational, and embodied factors. In this regard, the research has identified six structural components. The study demonstrates that the intensity of honour-related conflicts stems from an intricate interplay of structural factors. However, the relative weight of these factors determines the flashpoints of tension. Through the lens of structuration theory, the study demonstrates the role of everyday practices and dynamic social factors in shaping individuals' discursive consciousness around honour. Individuals' conceptualization of honour may sometimes diverge from its practical application, leading to a space for social negotiation where honour undergoes continuous reshaping into a dynamic equilibrium that impacts daily life. It's essential to recognize that this equilibrium varies among individuals. However, a threat to honour can prompt varying facework procedures, contingent upon individual characteristics and community expectations. Current Inquiry uncovers six distinct behavioural patterns individuals exhibit during a crisis of honour. The investigation of the participants' narratives reveals a diverse Kurdish culture, as evidenced by their different perceptions about the tolerable thresholds of honour violations and contradictory discourses concerning honour. The final significant finding is that the fear of dishonour typically outweighs the desire for honour among the Kurds, as indicated by both daily language use and chronological analysis of conflict cases. This observation holds significant implications, not only for reevaluating normative terminology but also for informing social and political preventive measures.

Source

Author's Submission

Date

2024-01-01

Publisher

Christ(Deemed to be University)

Subject

Sociology

Rights

Open Access

Relation

61000324

Format

PDF

Language

English

Type

PhD

Identifier

http://hdl.handle.net/10603/570000