AN ETHNOGRAPHIC RESEARCH ON THE SOCIAL ORGANIZATION OF SUNDAY BREAKFAST: THE CASE OF NEVŞEHIR

Abstract

This research investigates the socio-cultural importance of breakfast in Turkey, analyzing class-based organizational disparities via fieldwork. The objective is to elucidate the cultural aspect of Sunday breakfast traditions in Nevşehir, situated in the core of Cappadocia, a notable tourist destination in Turkey. The Sunday breakfast culture, as a prevalent cultural phenomenon, is examined through ethnography to comprehend its implementation, variations among social classes, and interaction rituals. The researcher aims to illustrate the contemporary cultural landscape while filling a notable void in the literature by revealing the previously unexamined. This research represents a unique ethnographic examination in Turkey that scrutinizes the socio-cultural structure of Sunday breakfasts from the perspective of class stratification. This research enhances both gastronomic and sociological scholarship by analyzing the integration of class within commonplace domestic practices. Furthermore, it utilizes Bourdieu’s concept of habitus to examine how food-related behaviors both signify and perpetuate class positions. Blake R. Silver (2020) asserts that cultural similarities or disparities based on class persist in influencing daily rituals into adulthood, a concept evident in breakfast practices. This study contributes to the literature on the interplay between breakfast culture, social class, and interpersonal relations, while also fostering a dialogue between gastronomy and sociology.