Examining Disaster with Sociological Concepts

Hasan Yeniçırak; Betül Durmaz Yurt

Article Details

Examining Disaster with Sociological Concepts

Authors:

Hasan Yeniçırak | Betül Durmaz Yurt

Publisher:

Trakya University

Main Topics:

Çevre Sosyolojisi

Journal:

Trakya Üniversitesi Edebiyat Fakültesi Dergisi Vol.14 Issue 28, pp.181-200

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

7/2024

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001323772

pISSN:

1309-7660

Keywords:

Abstract:

 Disasters are primarily considered to be physical phenomena. However, disasters are a social phenomenon as well as a physical phenomenon. The fact that disasters are a social phenomenon requires examining them from a sociological perspective. Disasters are like a social laboratory for sociology. Based on this reality, the present study examines disasters in the context of certain sociological concepts. In this regard, disaster readings on mass panic, solidarity, conflict, and gender are included. The disaster reading on the axis of mass panic emphasizes that the first reaction immediately after disasters is mass panic and violence, which leads to social disintegration. The disaster reading on the axis of solidarity emphasizes that the behavioral pattern that emerges immediately after the earthquake is more cooperation and that disasters lead to strong altruistic norms in people. The third sociological reading states that the behavioral patterns that emerge immediately after disasters are shaped on the axis of conflict, not solidarity. Disaster reading on the gender axis relates development-underdevelopment and fragility and addresses the relationship of women in vulnerable groups with disaster in the context of gender. These sociological perspectives on disasters explain how disasters do not have a single dimension but can lead to situations that may conflict with each other simultaneously.

 Disasters are primarily considered to be physical phenomena. However, disasters are a social phenomenon as well as a physical phenomenon. The fact that disasters are a social phenomenon requires examining them from a sociological perspective. Disasters are like a social laboratory for sociology. Based on this reality, the present study examines disasters in the context of certain sociological concepts. In this regard, disaster readings on mass panic, solidarity, conflict, and gender are included. The disaster reading on the axis of mass panic emphasizes that the first reaction immediately after disasters is mass panic and violence, which leads to social disintegration. The disaster reading on the axis of solidarity emphasizes that the behavioral pattern that emerges immediately after the earthquake is more cooperation and that disasters lead to strong altruistic norms in people. The third sociological reading states that the behavioral patterns that emerge immediately after disasters are shaped on the axis of conflict, not solidarity. Disaster reading on the gender axis relates development-underdevelopment and fragility and addresses the relationship of women in vulnerable groups with disaster in the context of gender. These sociological perspectives on disasters explain how disasters do not have a single dimension but can lead to situations that may conflict with each other simultaneously.

 Disasters are primarily considered to be physical phenomena. However, disasters are a social phenomenon as well as a physical phenomenon. The fact that disasters are a social phenomenon requires examining them from a sociological perspective. Disasters are like a social laboratory for sociology. Based on this reality, the present study examines disasters in the context of certain sociological concepts. In this regard, disaster readings on mass panic, solidarity, conflict, and gender are included. The disaster reading on the axis of mass panic emphasizes that the first reaction immediately after disasters is mass panic and violence, which leads to social disintegration. The disaster reading on the axis of solidarity emphasizes that the behavioral pattern that emerges immediately after the earthquake is more cooperation and that disasters lead to strong altruistic norms in people. The third sociological reading states that the behavioral patterns that emerge immediately after disasters are shaped on the axis of conflict, not solidarity. Disaster reading on the gender axis relates development-underdevelopment and fragility and addresses the relationship of women in vulnerable groups with disaster in the context of gender. These sociological perspectives on disasters explain how disasters do not have a single dimension but can lead to situations that may conflict with each other simultaneously.

 Herhangi bir afet durumu söz konusu olduğunda afetler öncelikle fiziksel bir olgu olarak değerlendirilmektedir. Ancak, afetler fiziksel olgu olduğu kadar toplumsal bir olgudur. Afetlerin toplumsal bir olgu olması ise onun sosyolojik perspektiften incelenmesini gerekli kılmaktadır. Afetler, sosyoloji için adeta bir toplumsal laboratuvar niteliğine sahiptir. Bu gerçeklikten hareketle, bu çalışma afetleri belli başlı sosyolojik kavramlar eşliğinde incelemektedir. Çalışmada, kitlesel panik, dayanışma, çatışma ve toplumsal cinsiyet eksenindeki afet okumalarına yer verilmektedir. Kitlesel panik eksenindeki afet okuması, afetlerin hemen akabinde ortaya çıkan ilk tepkinin kitlesel panik ve şiddet olduğunu, bu durumun da toplumsal çözülmeye yol açtığını vurgulamaktadır. Dayanışma eksenindeki afet okuması, depremin hemen akabinde ortaya çıkan davranış örüntüsünün daha çok yardımlaşma olduğunu, afetlerin insanlarda güçlü özgecil normların ortaya çıkmasına yol açtığını vurgulamaktadır. Bunun karşısında ise afetlerin hemen akabinde ortaya çıkan davranış örüntülerinin dayanışma ekseninde değil, çatışma ekseninde şekillendiğini belirten bir sosyolojik okuma bulunmaktadır. Toplumsal cinsiyet eksenindeki afet okuması ise gelişmişlik-azgelişmişlik ile kırılganlığı ilişkilendirerek kırılgan gruplar içerisinde yer alan kadınların afetle ilişkisini toplumsal cinsiyet bağlamında ele almaktadır. Afetlere yönelik bu sosyolojik perspektifler, afetlerin tek bir boyutunun olmadığını, aynı anda birbirine tezatlık teşkil edebilecek durumlara nasıl yol açtığının bir açıklamasını sunmaktadır.

Article Details

Examining Disaster with Sociological Concepts

Authors:

Hasan Yeniçırak | Betül Durmaz Yurt

Publisher:

Trakya University

Main Topics:

Çevre Sosyolojisi

Journal:

Trakya Üniversitesi Edebiyat Fakültesi Dergisi Vol.14 Issue 28, pp.181-200

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

7/2024

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001323772

pISSN:

1309-7660

Disaster

Mass Panic

Solidarity

Conflict

GenderAfet

Kitlesel Panik

Dayanışma

Çatışma

Toplumsal Cinsiyet

Issues

Article Details

Authors: Hasan Yeniçırak | Betül Durmaz Yurt

Publisher: Trakya University

Main Topics: Çevre Sosyolojisi

Journal: Trakya Üniversitesi Edebiyat Fakültesi Dergisi Vol.14 Issue 28, pp.181-200

Document Type: Article

Publication Date: 7/2024

Document Language: Turkish

Document ID (Org No.): 2001323772

pISSN: 1309-7660

Issues

Authors:

Hasan Yeniçırak | Betül Durmaz Yurt

Publisher:

Trakya University

Main Topics:

Çevre Sosyolojisi

Journal:

Trakya Üniversitesi Edebiyat Fakültesi Dergisi Vol.14 Issue 28, pp.181-200

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

7/2024

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001323772

pISSN:

1309-7660