Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
16th Conference of the European Sociological Association, Porto, Portekiz, 27 - 30 Ağustos 2024, ss.1042, (Özet Bildiri)
This presentation explores the construction of retired
mineworkers’ masculinities, focusing on the dynamics
that evolve during increased free time post-retirement
and daily life practices. The masculinities of the working
class in mining cities have undergone changes through
two processes since the 1980s: privatizations and early retirements.
Mineworker masculinities in Zonguldak, one of
Turkey’s significant mining cities, are no exception. Despite
the deindustrialization process, Zonguldak maintains its
identity as a “mining city”, and the impact of mining masculinity
persists. The study investigates how the extended
free time post-retirement influences the gender identities
and performances of mineworkers, who have shaped their
masculinity through years of demanding work. In-depth interviews
with 15 retired mineworkers in Zonguldak reveal
that retirement brings both opportunities and crises. Opportunities
include specialization in other fields or applying
mining skills elsewhere at early ages. However, crises arise
from the perception of a labor-intensive skill becoming
idle, leading to a sense of uselessness in a still active life.
Overall, daily life after retirement is imbued with meaning
derived from the mining profession and identity, with an
effort to maintain a heroic masculinity that endures beyond
retirement.