Lives hidden under the lights: unraveling the konsomatris work in Ankara Pavyons from a feminist perspective

Abstract

In Turkish society, Pavyons, a type of nightclub, are closely associated with the local culture of Ankara. The main figures in the Ankara Pavyons are the konsomatris women, who are stigmatized by society and whose job description consists of sitting at tables with customers, drinking and dancing with them. This study primarily delves into the significance and evolution of Pavyons within Ankara's culture. It asserts that Ankara's Pavyons, along with the sexual labor performed by konsomatris women, hold key roles in this context. Research data is collected through in-depth interviews with subjects of the Pavyon, especially the konsomatris women, and by attending the Pavyons as participant observer. The sexual labor and the experiences of the konsomatris women, who constitute the central part of the collected data, are evaluated as a whole by considering their experiences related to their works in Ankara Pavyons. This research intentionally avoids the binary definition of women prevalent in existing discourse, which typically considers women as either "victims" or "agents," as evidenced in the anti-pornography movement and ongoing arguments around "sex work." Moreover, rather than categorizing konsomatris women as sex workers or forcing them into one of these predetermined categories, this study considers the unique dynamics that exist Ankara Pavyons and konsomatris women’s narratives. Therefore, the study aims to consider the stigma and the possibility of prostitution associated with konsomatris work, all within the context of the peculiar circumstances surrounding Ankara Pavyons.