Securing a Future with Social Capital: The Case of Syrian Refugee Women Working in Non-governmental Organizations-Refugees (NGO-Rs) in Turkey

Aiming at shedding a light on refugee women’s experiences with social capital, this article tries to answer the following questions: whether and how do Syrian refugee women utilize different forms of social capital to find jobs in NGO-Rs in Turkey? Investigating the role of bonding, bridging, and linking social capital, a qualitative methods study was conducted with Syrian refugee women that work at NGO-Rs in Turkey. The data analyzed was generated by thematic analysis of semi-structured
interviews with 16 Syrian refugee women working in NGO-Rs in Gaziantep, Turkey; and a key informant interview that was conducted for triangulation purposes with an office manager of an NGO-R that finds work for Syrian refugees in Turkey. Research findings reveal that Syrian women tend to rely on personal and professional ties to find jobs and survive in the sector; and it radically increases their employment prospects.