Journals / Turizm Akademik Dergisi / 2026 / Cilt: 13 Sayı: 1

Sustainable Food Culture and Intergenerational Knowledge Transmission: Experiences of Three Generations of Women in Eastern Turkey

Sürdürülebilir Gıda Kültürü ve Kuşaklararası Bilgi Aktarımı: Türkiye'nin Doğusunda Üç Nesil Kadın Deneyimi

Pages
147–165
Publication Date
2026-06-09
🏛️Bibliographic metadata and full text access for this article are provided via DergiPark.
DergiPark Record ↗
✨

AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

So, it seems possible to keep culinary culture alive by passing down old knowledge in a way that works with modern life and by creating new ways to share it through digital platforms.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

🎯
Objective & Hypothesis:This study seeks to investigate the intergenerational transmission of food culture and its sustainability, focusing on the experiences of three generations of women residing in the Doğubayazıt district of Ağrı province in eastern Turkey.
📊
Key Findings & Data:The research utilized a phenomenological qualitative methodology, executing semi-structured interviews with 60 women from three generational cohorts (grandmother, mother, and young generation) through purposive sampling.
💡
Conclusion & Impact:So, it seems possible to keep culinary culture alive by passing down old knowledge in a way that works with modern life and by creating new ways to share it through digital platforms.
🔬Design:Araştırma Makalesi
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:Kuşaklararası aktarım · Geleneksel mutfak kültürü · Aile içi gıda sosyalleşmesi

Abstract

This study seeks to investigate the intergenerational transmission of food culture and its sustainability, focusing on the experiences of three generations of women residing in the Doğubayazıt district of Ağrı province in eastern Turkey. The research utilized a phenomenological qualitative methodology, executing semi-structured interviews with 60 women from three generational cohorts (grandmother, mother, and young generation) through purposive sampling. The data was coded through an inductive analytical method, which led to the creation of themes. Research shows that passing down food from one generation to the next is more than just learning how to make a dish; it also includes sourcing ingredients, making the dish, cooking it, eating it, and serving it. The first and second generations are heavily involved in the production and preparation of traditional cooking knowledge. The third generation, on the other hand, is only somewhat involved in these processes. Traditional kitchen practices have changed because families have gone from being large to being small, people have started using modern cooking tools, and people don't have as much time. Also, for younger people, meals are mostly important on a symbolic level. It was observed that ritual meals and communal eating practices during special occasions strengthen intergenerational bonds. The findings suggest that the decrease in the transmission of traditional food knowledge may be associated with a decline in local production methods, a reduction in biodiversity, and negative impacts on ecological sustainability. So, it seems possible to keep culinary culture alive by passing down old knowledge in a way that works with modern life and by creating new ways to share it through digital platforms.

Özet

Bu araştırma, Türkiye’nin doğusunda yer alan Ağrı ili Doğubayazıt ilçesinde yaşayan üç kuşak kadının deneyimleri üzerinden kuşaklararası gıda kültürü aktarımını ve bu aktarımın sürdürülebilirlik boyutunu incelemeyi amaçlamaktadır. Araştırmada fenomenolojik nitel araştırma yaklaşımı benimsenmiş; amaçlı örnekleme yöntemiyle üç kuşağı (anneanne, anne ve genç nesil) kapsayan aile içi kuşak yapıları temel alınarak toplam 60 kadın ile yarı yapılandırılmış görüşmeler gerçekleştirilmiştir. Veriler tümevarımsal analiz süreciyle kodlanmış, temalar oluşturulmuş. Bulgular, kuşaklararası yemek aktarımının yalnızca tarif bilgisinin öğrenilmesiyle sınırlı olmadığını; malzeme temini, üretim, pişirme teknikleri, tüketim ve sunum pratiklerini kapsayan bütüncül bir süreç olduğunu göstermektedir. Birinci ve ikinci kuşakların geleneksel gıda bilgisinin üretim ve hazırlık aşamalarında aktif rol aldığı, üçüncü kuşağın ise bu süreçlere sınırlı düzeyde katıldığı belirlenmiştir. Geleneksel mutfak pratiklerinin büyük aile yapısından çekirdek aileye geçiş, modern mutfak araçlarının kullanımı ve zaman kısıtı gibi faktörlerle dönüşüme uğradığı; yemeklere yüklenen sosyal ve kültürel anlamın genç kuşakta daha çok sembolik düzeyde kaldığı tespit edilmiştir. Bununla birlikte ritüel yemeklerin ve özel günlerdeki ortak tüketim pratiklerinin kuşaklararası bağları sürdürdüğü görülmüştür. Elde edilen bulgular, geleneksel gıda bilgisinin aktarımındaki zayıflamanın yerel üretim pratiklerinin azalması, biyoçeşitliliğin sınırlanması ve ekolojik sürdürülebilirliğin zedelenmesi ile ilişkili olabileceğini ortaya koymaktadır. Sonuç olarak mutfak kültürünün sürdürülebilirliği, geleneksel bilginin güncel yaşam koşullarıyla uyumlu biçimde yeniden üretilmesi ve dijital platformlar aracılığıyla yeni aktarım mekanizmalarının geliştirilmesi ile mümkün görünmektedir.

🔖

Cite This Article

Yorulmaz, A., Çetin, K. (2026). Sustainable Food Culture and Intergenerational Knowledge Transmission: Experiences of Three Generations of Women in Eastern Turkey. Turizm Akademik Dergisi, Cilt: 13 Sayı: 1, 147–165. https://doi.org/10.65981/touraj.1902817

📄 Full Text PDF Viewer

📄

PDF görüntüleyici hazırlanıyor...

References (38)

  1. Adjaye, J. K., & Aborampah, O. (2004). Intergenerational cultural transmission among the Akan of Ghana. Journal of Intergenerational Relationships, 2(3–4), 23–38. https://doi.org/10.1300/j194v02n03_03
  2. Bliss, L. A. (2016). Phenomenological research: Inquiry to understand the meanings of people's experiences. International Journal of Adult Vocational Education and Technology (IJAVET), 7(3), 14 –26. https://doi.org/10.4018/IJAVET.2016070102
  3. Bowen, G. A. (2009). Supporting a grounded theory with an audit trail: An illustration. International Journal of Social Research Methodology, 12(4), 305–316. https://doi.org/10.1080/13645570802156196
  4. Brannen, J. (2006). Cultures of intergenerational transmission in four-generation families. The Sociological Review, 54(1), 133–154. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-954X.2006.00605.x
  5. Canatan, A. (2008). Toplumsal değerler ve yaşlılar. Yaşlı Sorunları Araştırma Dergisi, 1(1), 62–71.
  6. Carrigan, M., Wells, V., & Athwal, N. (2023). ‘I’d never cook it now’: An exploration of intergenerational transference and its role in facilitating family food sustainability. European Journal of Marketing, 57(5), 1352–1379.
  7. Chabrol, D., & Muchnik, J. (2011). Les compétences des consommateurs contribuent au maintien et à la diffusion d’aliments patrimoniaux. Anthropology of Food, 8. https://doi.org/10.4000/aof.6847
  8. Cho, S., & Krasser, A. H. (2011). What makes us care? The impact of cultural values, individual factors, and attention to media content on motivation for ethical consumerism. International Social Science Review, 86(1/2), 3–23.
  9. D’Andrea, A., & D’Ulizia, A. (2023). Preserving local food traditions: A hybrid participatory approach for stimulating transgenerational dialogue. Societies, 13(4), 95. https://doi.org/10.3390/soc13040095
  10. Fereday, J., & Muir-Cochrane, E. (2006). Demonstrating rigor using thematic analysis: A hybrid approach of inductive and deductive coding and theme development. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 5(1), 80–92. https://doi.org/10.1177/160940690600500107
  11. Fonseca, M. J. (2008). Understanding consumer culture: The role of “Food” as an important cultural category. Sociology. https://www.acrwebsite.org/volumes/14134/la/v2_pdf/LA-02
  12. García, J. L. (2024). Comidas complejas. Archives on Food Culture and Nutrition (AFOCUN-ICAF), 2(2), 25–45. https://doi.org/10.17398/3020-3635.2.25
  13. Glaser, B., & Strauss, A. (2017). Discovery of grounded theory: Strategies for qualitative research. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203793206
  14. Høffding, S., & Martiny, K. (2016). Framing a phenomenological interview: What, why and how. Phenomenology and the Cognitive Sciences, 15(4), 539–564. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11097-015-9433-z
  15. Horton, J., Macve, R., & Struyven, G. (2004). Qualitative research: Experiences in using semi-structured interviews. In C. Humphrey & B. Lee (Eds.), The real life guide to accounting research: A behind-the-scenes view of using qualitative research methods (pp. 339–357). Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-008043972-3/50022-0
  16. Jarvis, P. (1987). Meaningful and meaningless experience: Towards an analysis of learning from life. Adult Education Quarterly, 37(3), 164-172. https://doi.org/10.1177/0001848187037003004
  17. Kennedy, G., Wang, Z., Maundu, P., & Hunter, D. (2022). The role of traditional knowledge and food biodiversity to transform modern food systems. Trends in Food Science & Technology, 130, 32–41. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tifs.2022.09.011
  18. Kharuhayothin, T., & Kerrane, B. (2018). Learning from the past? An exploratory study of familial food socialization processes using the lens of emotional reflexivity. European Journal of Marketing, 52(12), 2312–2333.
  19. Kwik, J. C. (2008). Traditional Food Knowledge: Renewing culture and restoring health. In UWSpace (University of Waterloo). http://hdl.handle.net/10012/4052
  20. Leuterio, P., & Vargas, D. (2021). Intergenerational transmission of food cultures in the Philippines. SSRN Electronic Journal. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3759449
  21. Lincoln, Y. S., & Guba, E. G. (1988, April). Criteria for assessing naturalistic inquiries as reports. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association, New Orleans, LA.
  22. Magaldi, D., & Berler, M. (2020). Semi-structured interviews. Encyclopedia of Personality And İndividual Differences, 4825–4830. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-24612-3_857
  23. Meydan, C. H., & Akkaş, H. (2024). The role of triangulation in qualitative research: converging perspectives. In Principles of Conducting Qualitative Research in Multicultural Settings (pp. 98–129). IGI Global. https://doi.org/10.4018/979-8-3693-3306–8.ch006
  24. Nahak, M. M. N., Dapubean, A. R. P., & Nahak, K. B. (2025). Preservation of local food Culinary lexicons based on social status in the Indonesia–Timor Leste Border area: A Socio-Econo-Ecolinguistic Analysis. Journal of General Education and Humanities, 5(1), 213–232. https://doi.org/10.58421/gehu.v5i1.860
  25. Neely, E., Walton, M., & Stephens, C. (2014). Young people's food practices and social relationships. A thematic synthesis. Appetite, 82, 50–60. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2014.07.005
  26. Nico, M., Caetano, A., Silva, P., & Gouveia, R. (2020). Practices and meanings of intergenerational food education. British Food Journal, 122(5), 1417-1435.
  27. Patton, M. Q. (2015). Qualitative research & evaluation methods: Integrating theory and practice (4th ed.). SAGE Publications.
  28. Pereira, L. M., Calderón-Contreras, R., Norström, A. V., Espinosa, D., Willis, J., Lara, L. G., Khan, Z., Rusch, L., Palacios, E. C., & Amaya, O. P. (2019). Chefs as change-makers from the kitchen: indigenous knowledge and traditional food as sustainability innovations. Global Sustainability, 2. https://doi.org/10.1017/s2059479819000139
  29. Quintero-Angel, M., Mendoza, D. M., & Quintero-Angel, D. (2019). The cultural transmission of food habits, identity, and social cohesion: A case study in the rural zone of Cali-Colombia. Appetite, 139, 75–83. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2019.04.011
  30. Rabušicová, M., Kamanová, L., & Pevná, K. (2016). Family learning models in intergenerational perspective. The New Educational Review, 45(1), 64–75. https://doi.org/10.15804/tner.2016.45.3.05
  31. Rodríguez-Osiac, L., Franch, C., Hernandez, P., & Pemjean, I. (2022). Transmission of food dynamics in the domestic environment. Proceedings of the Nutrition Society, 81(OCE2). https://doi.org/10.1017/s0029665122000878
  32. Saunders, B., Sim, J., Kingstone, T., Baker, S., Waterfield, J., Bartlam, B., Burroughs, H., & Jinks, C. (2018). Saturation in qualitative research: Exploring its conceptualization and operationalization. Quality & Quantity, 52(4), 1893–1907. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11135-017-0574-8
  33. Si, A. (2020). Patterns in the transmission of traditional ecological knowledge: a case study from Arnhem Land, Australia. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine, 16(1), 52. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13002-020-00403-2
  34. Spencer-Oatey, H., & Franklin, P. (2012). What is culture. A Compilation of Quotations. Globalpad Core Concepts, 1(22), 1–21.
  35. Stancu, V., & Lähteenmäki, L. (2022). Consumer-related antecedents of food provisioning behaviors that promote food waste. Food Policy, 108, 102236.
  36. Van der Heijden, A., & Wiggins, S. (2025). Interaction as the foundation for eating practices in shared mealtimes. Appetite, 205, 107585. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2024.107585
  37. Voola, A. P., Wyllie, J., Carlson, J., & Sridharan, S. (2018). Families and food: Exploring food well-being in poverty. European Journal of Marketing, 52(12), 2423–2448.
  38. Yeşil, D., & Yeşil, S. Ç. (2022). Yemek Kültüründe Modernize Çalışmalar: Bitlis Örneği (Modernized Studies in Food Culture: The Case of Bitlis). Journal of Tourism & Gastronomy Studies, 10(3), 1641-1657. https://doi.org/10.21325/jotags.2022.1060