Research Information System
JOURNAL OF INTERNATIONAL MIGRATION AND INTEGRATION, 2026 (ESCI, Scopus)
This study examines the effects of social support and social exclusion factors on the integration process of women who migrated from Bulgaria to T & uuml;rkiye in 1989. Using a qualitative research design, data were collected through face-to-face interviews with 24 migrant women residing in Istanbul and Edirne. A phenomenological approach was adopted to gain an in-depth understanding of their lived experiences, and a semi-structured interview form guided the data collection. Thematic analysis was performed using the MAXQDA 2020 software. The findings reveal that migrant women need social support in the host country, and such support facilitates their adaptation, contributing to their well-being and participation both in social life and the labor market. Conversely, women who experience social exclusion tend to disengage from the integration process and face greater challenges in achieving social cohesion. Based on these findings, it is recommended that migration-focused support programs aimed at combating discrimination be implemented, and that efforts be made to enhance cultural harmony at the macro level. The study contributes to gender-sensitive and ecological understandings of forced migration and offers implications for institutional labor protections and sustainable integration policies.