Muslim Women of Ajara: Certain Aspects of Their Sociocultural and Sociolinguistic Portrait
Muslim Women of Ajara: Certain Aspects of Their Sociocultural and Sociolinguistic Portrait

Summary/Abstract: The present paper deals with the distinctive aspects of the assimilation process experienced by Muslim women in Ajara while adjusting to new forms of life, which were expressed in sociocultural and sociolinguistic dimensions. The subject of the research is the period between 1920s‒1930s distinguished by the establishment of Soviet power in the region of Ajara, which initiated a series of assimilation-driven yet contradictory processes. While the small number of Muslim women in Ajara adapted to new conditions, the majority of Ajarian women hesitated to adapt to change due to fear or timidity. In the countryside, women were still influenced by conservative traditions, particularly within the frameworks of social relations, such as marriage, dowries, work, education and etc. The adherence to traditional lifestyle among these women was largely driven by either the fear of family influence or external aggression. Nonetheless, progressively, over time, social norms in the region evolved as modern influences began to take hold. For instance, the traditional chador was replaced by plainer headscarf (known as “lechaki”), mostly worn by older women. The relationship between women and their families, especially with male members of society gradually became less restrictive. Whereas, women were previously restricted from engaging in conversations or being seen with men, these prohibitions were progressively relaxed. Ajarian women gained access to education, which was unthinkable in the pre-Soviet period. The sociocul-tural identity of Ajarian women and their process of assimilation into new ways of life have been prominently preserved in folklore, literature and other forms of collective and cultural heritage. The previously mentioned study will be developed based on the text, focusing on the aforementioned aspects. We will examine the unique characteristics of assimilation process experienced by Muslim women in Ajara adapting to new living conditions; moreover, we will engage in sociolinguistic analysis of this process and evaluate the historical, cultural and social factors that led to assimilation of Turkisms into local dialects.

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