Paper short abstract:

This paper reveals the relationship between the socio-economic implications of border crossings and the transformation of gender relations, based on the findings of fieldwork in the summer 2021 in Hopa, Turkey, a border town at Turkey-Georgia border, lying across Batumi.

Paper long abstract:

This paper focuses on the relationship between the socio-economic implications of border crossings and the transformation of gender relations, as part of “Aligning Migration Management and the Migration–Development Nexus” (MIGNEX) Project. The discussion is based on the findings of fieldwork in the summer 2021 in Hopa, Turkey, a border town at Turkey-Georgia border, lying across Batumi. We explain different phases of the opening of the border in the last three decades and discuss the impact of series of border-openings on regional development. Shipping, truck driving, customs operations, smuggling, shuttle trade and Georgian migrants’ involvement in tea production are some of the trends, contributing to the economic growth in Hopa. Fieldwork findings and socio-economic indicators reveal that the considerable wealth expansion experienced by the local population have not contributed to overall development in the region; it rather has increased living standards and personal consumption of luxury items. We argue that gender relations and gendered subjectivities have been shaped through these processes. The visibility of Georgian women in Hopa’s economic life and employment of Georgian workers in tea harvesting (a job predominantly undertaken by the women) have led to increasing participation of Hopa women in socio-economic life. Yet, gendered division of labour and gendered violence have persisted. Furthermore, cross-border economic activities of men; i.e. shopping, gambling, business and truck-driving; resulting in economic power have solidified the hegemonic masculinities. The paper will discuss these empirical findings in connection to migration-development nexus, borderland studies and assess these literatures from a gender lens.