From gaining sympathy to being taken seriously: Social Identity Perception and Coping Strategies of sub-Saharan African immigrants in Istanbul

Abstract

Strategies to cope with the negative social identity perception of African immigrants in Istanbul, a recognition issue: The transition from gaining sympathy to being taken seriouslyYakup Azak, ykpazak@gmail.com While violence and hatred against Syrian refugees have become a topical issue in Turkey, the question of African immigrants in Istanbul was brought to the public agenda by political parties’ populist discourses immediately after the 2019 Turkish municipal elections. This study examines sub-Saharan Africans’ strategies to cope with negative social identity perception in Istanbul. The perception of negative social identity is the result of individuals' negative social comparison between their own group and out-groups. In such cases, group members begin to develop strategies to cope with this perception. Social identity literature suggests three types of coping strategies: individual mobility, social creativity, and social competition. This research was conducted in the Kumkapı district, where there is a concentration of African immigrants. The paper presents the results of a thematic analysis conducted with 20 Sub-saharan Africans, mainly from West-Africa (Senegal, Ivory Coast, Guinea, Somalia, Nigeria) and aged from 20 to 50. The information was obtained via focus groups in English and French languages, during fieldwork conducted from Fall 2017 to Spring 2019. The findings show that sub-Saharan Africans feel that the locals recognize themselves as friendly and sympathetic, but do not take them seriously. I argue that, even though the locals may find Africans friendlier as a result of their social creativity, this remains insufficient for the positive self-perception of this group. Therefore, Africans are looking for strategies that will make them be recognized more seriously by the hosts, without losing their sympathy. Keywords: sub-Saharan African immigrants, Istanbul, social identity theory, thematic analysis.