Violence in the Shadow of Family Ties: Experiences of Sexual Minorities in Türkiye

Abstract

This study investigates how individuals from sexual minority groups—specifically those identifying as bisexual, demisexual, androsexual, pansexual, and asexual—experience and navigate family violence within the context of Türkiye. Based on qualitative data gathered through in-depth interviews with 15 participants aged 24 to 47, the research examines how heteronormative family structures and compulsory kinship function as mechanisms of control and legitimize various forms of violence. Addressing a critical gap in Turkish academic literature, which has largely overlooked the experiences of sexual minority individuals with family violence, the study employs conceptual frameworks such as heteropatriarchy, microaggression, and the violence of intimacy. The findings reveal that emotional, psychological, and economic abuses are often justified by families under the guise of love, morality, or family honor. The study underscores the urgent need for inclusive legal protections, accessible social services, and comprehensive awareness-raising initiatives. Ultimately, it contributes to queer and feminist scholarship by offering novel insights into the ambivalent role of the family, as both a space of belonging and a mechanism of discipline.